Kaiser

/ˈkaɪzər/

Other forms: kaiser; Kaisers

Throughout history, emperors in German-speaking countries have been known as Kaisers. The earliest Kaisers ruled during the Holy Roman Empire.

Kaiser comes from the Old High German keisar, "emperor," and its Latin source, Caesar. Starting in the 10th century, the Holy Roman Emperors began calling themselves Kaiser, and the Austrian and German Empires continued this tradition into the 1800s. Kaiser Wilhelm II was the last to use the title, as the German monarchy ended in 1918. The kaiser roll, a round yeasted sandwich bread, was named in honor of Kaiser Franz Joseph I of Austria.

Definitions of Kaiser

1. noun

   the title of the Holy Roman Emperors or the emperors of Austria or of Germany until 1918
   synonyms: kaiser

   examples:

   Kaiser Wilhelm

   grandson of Queen Victoria and Kaiser of Germany from 1888 to 1918; he was vilified as causing World War I (1859-1941)

   type of:

   emperor

   the male ruler of an empire