variant of CALIPH, representing more closely the Arab. khalīfah. So Khalifat(e, Khaleefate, variants of CALIPHATE.
1728. Morgan, Algiers, I. iv. 153. From Alexandria … came all the Mighty Armadas set on Foot by the Saracen Khalifas.
1844. Ld. Houghton, Palm Leaves, 10. The just successor of the Khaleefate.
1898. Manch. Guard., 14 Oct., 5/2. The Khalifate had belonged to the Khalifa, and not to the Khedive.
