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Kezban is a name given to Turkish women. It is believed to have entered the Turkish language through Arabic from the word كَذَّاب (kadhdhāb)—meaning habitual liar. However,the Turkish language has also been influenced by Persian. In Persian, the suffix “-ban” means keeper, guardian, or protector. Additionally, the word ked-banu, meaning caretaker or one who manages a household in Persian, is cited as an origin of the name Kezban. Many families today refrain from naming their children Kezban, as the name's meaning has devolved over time, becoming a slang term meaning ignorant peasant woman or Turkish whore. A potential explanation for this radical shift in meaning can be traced back to a semi-common Turkish expression: Kezban'ın kerhanesi, meaning Kezban's brothel. This expression would be used in situations where many unknown and sketchy people had entered and left a certain room or building (“You turned my home into Kezban's brothel for your party!”). Over time, the expression was cut down to the name itself by lazy speakers, while holding the same meaning (“You made my car into a Kezban with all the people you let inside!”).

That is how Kezban—likely the madam of a brothel during the Ottoman era (living up to the meaning of her name “manager of a home”)— lost her name’s meaning and became a slang term. In short, the name Kezban means caretaker, or guardian of a home. It is associated with elegance, responsibility, organization, devotion, and radiant beauty.

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