kaiser

kai-ser · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (Historical) The title of the German emperors, especially those who ruled the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.

  2. 2.

    (Historical) The title of the emperors of Austria, used from 1804 to 1918.

  3. 3.

    (By extension) Any powerful ruler or leader; used sometimes to describe an authoritarian figure.

Forms

plural: kaisers

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    Kaiser roll — A type of round bread roll with a distinctive pattern of five segments on top, named for its association with Austria

Related words

See also: czar, emperor, monarch
Synonyms: emperor, monarch, sovereign

Etymology

From German Kaiser ("emperor"), from Middle High German keiser, from Old High German keisar, borrowed from Latin Caesar (the name of Julius Caesar, which became a title for Roman emperors). Cognate with Russian czar and Old English casere.