a title used by Muslim rulers, especially in the past 哈里发(尤为旧时穆斯林领袖的称号) Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French caliphe, from Arabic k̲alīfa meaning ‘deputy (of God)’ (from the title k̲alīfat Allāh), or meaning ‘successor (of Muhammad)’ (from the title k̲alīfat rasūl Allāh ‘of the Messenger of God’), from k̲alafa ‘succeed’.