Satrap
/ˈsæt.ræp/noun
A governor of a province in the ancient Persian Empire.
Did you know?Satrap comes from an ancient Iranian title ultimately tied to the same Indo-European root as Latin pater and English father, so this “ruler” word is secretly built from the language of fatherhood and authority.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-Iranian
PII
*xšaθra-pā-
“protector of the kingdom; guardian of rule”
Old Persian
OP
xšaçapāvan
“protector of the realm”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σατράπης (satrápēs)
“Persian provincial governor”
Late Latin
Latin
satrapes
“a satrap; a Persian governor”
Middle English
English
satrap
“a Persian governor; later, a petty despot”