Tokhar

plural Tokhars

1. Synonym of Tocharian (“any member of the Tochari, a people who inhabited Bactria”)

   While the Tokhars are considered an Iranian tribe, the Yue-chi belonged, judging at least from their language, to the western branch of the Indo-European family.

   1943, A History of Russia, volume 1, page 67

   2 more examples

   Here too it remained still dispossessed by the Hiungnû, B.C. 177 (Shi-ki, cxxiii) when the tribe broke up, the greater part migrating to Baktria, where for a time they associated with the Tokhars 大夏, afterwards appearing as the Ephthalîtae of the later Greek historians.

   1885, Journal of the China Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, page 51

   This time the nomads were the Yue-che (Yüe-czi), who, according to one authority (Tolstov), could be the same as the Greater Getae or Massagetae. It was probably a group of tribes, undoubtedly of Indo-European origin, one of which were the Tokhars who gave their name to Bactria (Tokharistan).

   1972, Edgar Knobloch, Beyond the Oxus: Archaeology, Art & Architecture of Central Asia, page 20

   Synonyms: Tocharian