Etymology

Klingon

K5L1I1N1G2O1N1

Today it means: A member of an alien warrior race in the Star Trek universe with distinctive forehead ridges and a culture based on the strict observance of honor, loyalty, and combat. Full definition →

German Klingen
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Klingon · proper noun1

  1. German · derived fromKlingen
  2. English todayKlingon

In many cases, from German Klingen, via Russian Клинген (Klingen) (many bearers in 1900s US censuses are recorded as being from Russia). Compare the various spellings of the related surname Klingon Smith (more commonly Klingensmith, Klingenschmitt, Klingenschmidt).

Klingon · noun, proper noun2

  1. Klingon · derived fromtlhIngan
  2. English todayKlingon

[Alt: Photograph of two people in Klingon costume] c. 1960s, from the Star Trek franchise, purportedly by Gene Roddenberry, named for Lieutenant Wilbur Clingan of the Los Angeles Police Department. In-universe, the name was a transcription of Klingon tlhIngan.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.