Samarkand

name

Etymology: From Russian Самарка́нд (Samarkánd), from Persian سمرقند (samarqand), from Sogdian 𐼼𐼺𐼰𐽀𐼸𐼻𐼹𐼳 (smʾrknδh /⁠*Smā́rkąθ⁠/).

1. The regional capital of the Samarkand region, Uzbekistan. Official name: Samarqand.

   “Look ’round thee now on Samarcand! — Is she not queen of Earth? her pride Above all cities? in her hand Their destinies?”

   “In the quaver of his voice was a remembering of long muletrains jingling through the gate, queens in litters hung with patchwork curtains from Samarcand, […]”

2. A region of Uzbekistan.