English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

caliph +‎ -ess

Noun edit

Caliphess (plural Caliphesses)

  1. A female caliph.
  2. The wife of a caliph.

Usage notes edit

No woman has ever served as caliph, as only adult Muslim men were eligible to be one. Hence in historical context, the word is exclusive to second sense only.

Anagrams edit