ahau

noun

ä-ˈhau̇
plural -s
often capitalized
: the last of the 20 day names of the Maya calendar that with its associated numbers 1 to 13 in a peculiar order (13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2) designated the 13 katuns of a series
13 ahau the first

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Epigraphic Mayan ʔajaaw, literally, "lord, ruler"

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ahau was in 1843

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near ahau

Cite this Entry

“Ahau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ahau. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!