afghan
afghan Lexical Profile
afghan Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to Afghanistan, its people, or their culture and languages.
"The museum curated a special exhibition featuring traditional Afghan carpets and intricate jewelry."
• noun
A native or inhabitant of Afghanistan, or a person of Afghan descent (capitalized as 'Afghan').
"Many Afghans celebrate Nowruz with traditional music, family gatherings, and special dishes."
North American A knitted or crocheted blanket or shawl made of colored wool, typically worked in geometric patterns or joined squares.
"She draped a handmade wool afghan over the back of the armchair to keep warm during the winter months."
An Afghan hound, a tall, slender breed of hunting dog native to central Asia, distinguished by its thick, silky coat and curled tail (often capitalized as 'Afghan').
"The graceful Afghan trotted across the show ring, its long silky coat gleaming under the lights."
New Zealand A traditional biscuit made with cocoa powder and cornflakes, topped with chocolate icing and half a walnut.
"The bakery on the corner sells freshly baked afghans alongside their morning coffee."
Word Nuance & Usage
In standard English, 'Afghan' (capitalized) refers to a citizen or native of Afghanistan, whereas 'afghani' is the official currency of the country and should not be used to refer to its people. When lowercase, 'afghan' denotes a knitted or crocheted blanket.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via Persian Afghān, originally referring to the Pashtun people; the lower-case textile sense arose in the 19th century from the colorful geometric patterns associated with traditional Afghan weaving.