mongol
mongol Lexical Profile
• noun
A member of the empire established in the 13th century under Genghis Khan, which rapidly expanded to become the largest contiguous land empire in history.
"The Mongols established vast trade networks across Eurasia, effectively reviving the Silk Road."
A native or inhabitant of Mongolia, or a member of the diverse Central Asian ethnic group traditionally known for a pastoral and nomadic lifestyle.
"Many modern Mongols still practice traditional nomadic herding on the expansive steppes of Central Asia."
• adjective
Relating to the Mongol people, their traditional nomadic culture, or the historical Mongol Empire of Central Asia.
"The museum exhibited a rare collection of Mongol cavalry armor dating back to the 13th century."
Word Nuance & Usage
When capitalized, 'Mongol' refers to the Central Asian ethnic group and historical empire. In lowercase, it was historically used as a medical descriptor for Down syndrome, a usage that is now considered highly offensive and obsolete.
• Rhymes for mongol
Word Origin & Etymology
From Mongolian 'Mongγol', the native name of the people, of uncertain further etymology. The offensive medical usage was coined in 1866 by physician John Langdon Down due to a perceived facial resemblance.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.