— caliphal /kal"euh feuhl, kay"leuh-/ , adj.
/kay"lif, kal"if/ , n.
1. a spiritual leader of Islam, claiming succession from Muhammad.
2. any of the former Muslim rulers of Baghdad (until 1258) and of the Ottoman Empire (from 1571 until 1924).
Also, calif, kalif, kaliph, khalif .
[ 1350-1400; ME caliphe, califfe calipha khalif ( a ) successor (of Muhammad), deriv. of khalafa succeed ]