Brewer's: Bashaw

An arrogant, domineering man; so called from the Turkish viceroys and provincial governors, each of whom bears the title of bascha (pacha).

A three-tailed bashaw.
A beglerbeg or prince of princes among the Turks, having a standard of three horse-tails borne before him. The next in rank is the bashaw with two tails, and then the bey, who has only one horse-tail.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
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