A king or royal ruler, especially in Persian countries like Iran; a title of high authority and power.
From Persian šāh, meaning 'king.' The word entered English through trade and diplomatic contact with the Persian Empire around the 16th century. It became especially common after European encounters with Islamic monarchies in the Middle East and India.
The Shah of Iran was so powerful that when he was overthrown in 1979, it changed world politics forever—one person's title carried enough weight to shift global power. This shows how a single word from another language can represent enormous historical forces.
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