Pasha \Pa*sha"\, n. [Turk. p[=a]sh[=a], b[=a]sh[=a]; cf. Per.
b[=a]sh[=a], b[=a]dsh[=a]h; perh. a corruption of Per.
p[=a]dish[=a]h. Cf. Bashaw, Padishah, Shah.]
An honorary title given to officers of high rank in Turkey,
as to governers of provinces, military commanders, etc. The
earlier form was bashaw. [Written also pacha.]
Note: There are three classes of pashas, whose rank is
distinguished by the number of the horsetails borne on
their standards, being one, two, or three, a pasha of
three tails being the highest.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
|