peshwa

From Urdu پیشوا (peśvā), from Classical Persian پیشوا (pēšwā).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpeɪʃwɑː/

peshwa (plural peshwas)

1. (now historical) Originally, a chief minister under the Marathi princes; later, (the title of) each of the rulers of the Marathi kingdom in central India from 1713–1818.
   • 1783, James Capper, A free inquiry into the various causes of the alarming state of our affairs in the East Indies:

     I need not inform the Board that the power which the Peshwas have possessed for about forty years past, is an Usurpation on the Sovereign authority vested by the Constitution in the Raja Sahoo, the last who retained it […]

   • 2016, Sunil Khilnani, Incarnations, Penguin, published 2017, page 127:

     Malik Ambar made it his business to watch Chengiz closely as he managed his role as peshwa.

• peishwa, peishwah, peshwah