bashaw

[ buh-shaw ]

/ bəˈʃɔ /

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noun

a person who is important, imperious, or self-important.

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Origin of bashaw

1525–35; <Arabic bāshā<Turkish pāshāpasha

Words nearby bashaw

base station, base tenant, base unit, bash, Bashan, bashaw, bashful, bashi-bazouk, bashing, Bashkir, Bashkir Autonomous Republic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bashaw in a sentence

The batteries on shore returned the fire, and the gunboats of the Bashaw advanced to the attack.
Stories of Our Naval Heroes|Various
No one knew, and upon a nearer examination it was seen that the "splendid Turk" and "magnificent bashaw" was no Turk at all.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng
Osman, the ruling bashaw, although a Turk, was a regular Tartar to deal with.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng
Here he shook hands with Mr. Figgins, and nodded as familiarly to the bashaw as though he had been a particular friend of his.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng

Osmond, the ruling bashaw for the time, had heard that strangers were within the palace, and he hurried there with all speed.
Jack Harkaway's Boy Tinker Among The Turks|Bracebridge Hemyng

British Dictionary definitions for bashaw

bashaw

/ (bəˈʃɔː) /

noun

a rare spelling of pasha

an important or pompous person

Word Origin for bashaw

C16: from Turkish başa, from bas head, chief

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012