pasha

pasha
    n 1: a civil or military authority in Turkey or Egypt [syn:
         {pasha}, {pacha}]
    

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}.]
   [1913 Webster]

   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.
         [1913 Webster]
    

Bashaw \Ba*shaw"\, n. [See {Pasha}.]
   1. A Turkish title of honor, now written {pasha}. See
      {Pasha}.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Fig.: A magnate or grandee.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Zool.) A very large siluroid fish ({Leptops olivaris}) of
      the Mississippi valley; -- also called {goujon}, {mud
      cat}, and {yellow cat}.
      [1913 Webster]