Comprising the Khoshut (Хошууд Hošuud), Choros or Ölöt (Өөлд Ööld), Torghut (Торгууд Torguud), and Dörbet (Дөрвөд Dörvöd) tribes, they were dubbed Kalmyk or Kalmak, which means "remnant" or "to remain", by their western Turkic neighbors.
They under name as Khoshuud Khanate of Tsaidam and the Koke Nuur are played a major role in Sino–Mongol–Tibetan politics of 17-18th centuries.