ⲕⲗⲁϥⲧ

Coptic

The Mamelukes of the Imperial Guard wearing klafts

Alternative forms

• ⲭⲗⲁϥⲧ (khlaft) — Bohairic

Etymology

Possibly from Demotic ḳrf (“unknown objects made of tissue”). Also could be borrowed from Ancient Greek καλυπτός (kaluptós, “covered”), or from Semitic, as Classical Syriac ܟܲܠܵܘܵܐ (kalāwā), ܟܲܠܘܵܐ (kalwā, “tiara”) and Akkadian 𒆪𒇻𒇻 (/⁠kulūlu⁠/, “a kind of turban or headband”) have a similar meaning, however judging by Latin calautica already present in Demotic.

Noun

ⲕⲗⲁϥⲧ • (klaft) f (plural ⲕⲗⲁϥⲧ (klaft))

1. (Bohairic) hood, cowl
2. (Bohairic) a kind of headdress consisting of a small cap environed by a gigantic turban, a bonnet, popular with the Ayyubids and Mamluks

Descendants

• → Arabic: كَلَّوْتَة (kallawta), كَلَّفْتَة (kallafta), كَلَّفْتَاة (kallaftāh), كَلَّفَة (kallafa)
  • → Amharic: ከሎታ (kälota)
  • → French: calotte (probably) (see there for further descendants)
  • → Harari: ከሎተ (kälōtä), ካሎይታ (kalōyta)
  • → Persian: کلوته (kolute), گلوته (golute)

References

• Crum, Walter E. (1939) A Coptic Dictionary‎^[1], Oxford: Clarendon Press, →ISBN
• Vycichl, Werner (1983) Dictionnaire Étymologique de la Langue Copte, Leuven: Peeters, →ISBN