Pa*sha" (?), n. [Turk. pasha, basha; cf. Per. basha, badshah; perh. a corruption of Per. padishah. 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.]
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.
© Webster 1913.