dan
dan Lexical Profile
dan Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A level of mastery or black-belt rank in Japanese and Korean martial arts (such as judo, karate, aikido, or kendo) as well as traditional board games like Go and shogi, or a person who has achieved such a rank.
"After a decade of rigorous training and tournament competition, she was promoted to third dan in judo."
An archaic or poetic title of honor and respect equivalent to 'Master' or 'Sir', historically placed before a man's given name.
"Early modern English poets frequently referred to Geoffrey Chaucer affectionately as Dan Chaucer."
British A small floating buoy marked with a pole and flag, used by fishing vessels to indicate the position of anchored nets, lines, or fishing grounds, or by minesweepers to mark a cleared channel.
"The trawler crew dropped a dan to mark the edge of the shoal before hauling in their nets."
• Rhymes for dan
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The martial arts sense was borrowed in the late 19th century from Japanese 'dan', literally meaning 'step, grade, or rank'. The archaic title of address derives via Old French 'dan' from Latin 'dominus' ('master' or 'lord').