Word of the Day – Aksakal

Aksakal (noun) (also< acsacal, aqsaqal, axakal)
ak-sak-al

In some Central Asian societies (as among the Uzbeks, Kazakhs,Tajiks, etc.): a village elder, a headman.

Early 19th century; earliest use found in John Pinkerton (1758–1826), historian and poet. From a word in a Turkic language of Central Asia (e.g. Uzbek aksakal (formerly in Arabic script as aqsaqal)), cognate with Turkish aksakal, lit. ‘white beard’ (from ak- white + sakal beard).

Example sentences

“When the aksakal spoke, the village fell silent to listen”