Aimak

(1) In the Turkic, Mongolian, and to some extent, the Tungus-Manchurian languages, Aimak originally was a descent subdivision—by kin, tribe, and even people; in feudal times it came to mean a large estate, a principality, and, with the Mongols, sometimes a khanate.

(2) A local designation for an administrative unit, specifically, the raions of the Buriat ASSR and of the Gorno-Altai Autonomous Oblast of the RSFSR.

(3) In the Mongolian People’s Republic, the principal administrative territorial unit. The supreme government organ of an aimak is the hural of people’s deputies, elected for a term of two years.