[ 'keɪlɪf , 'ka- ]
■ noun historical the chief Muslim civil and religious ruler, regarded as the successor of Muhammad.
Derivatives
~ate noun
Origin
ME: from OFr. ~e , from Arab. ḵalīfa 'deputy (of God)' (from the title ḵalīfat Allāh ), or 'successor (of Muhammad)' (from the title ḵalīfat rasūl Allāh 'of the Messenger of God').