satrap

sa·trap

noun \ˈsā-ˌtrap also ˈsa-ˌtrap or ˈsa-trəp\

Definition of SATRAP

1

: the governor of a province in ancient Persia

2

a : ruler

b : a subordinate official : henchman

Origin of SATRAP

Middle English, from Latin satrapes, from Greek satrapēs, from Old Persian khshathrapāvan, literally, protector of the dominion

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Foreign Functionary Terms

count, despot, emir, wardrobe, yeoman

Rhymes with SATRAP

ASCAP, backslap, backwrap, bitmap, blackcap, bootstrap, burlap, Carnap, catnap, cell sap, claptrap, death cap, death trap, dunce cap, dognap, earflap, entrap, enwrap, firetrap, foolscap, gelcap, gift wrap, gun lap, heeltap, hubcap, ice cap, jockstrap, kidnap, kneecap, lagniappe, light trap, livetrap, love tap, madcap, mantrap, mayhap, mishap, mobcap, mousetrap, mud flap, nightcap, on tap, pace lap, pinesap, rattrap, recap, redcap, remap, riprap, road map, root cap, sand trap, shiplap, shrink-wrap, skullcap, skycap, snowcap, spark gap, speed trap, steel-trap, stopgap, toe cap, unsnap, unstrap, unwrap, watch cap, whitecap, wind gap, winesap, wiretap, word wrap

satrap

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Provincial governor in the Achaemenian empire. Darius I (r. 522–486 BC) established 20 satrapies with an annual tribute. Appointed by the king, satraps were usually of the royal family or Persian nobility and held office indefinitely. They collected taxes, were the highest judicial authority, and were responsible for internal security and for raising and maintaining an army. Controls guarded against the abuse of power, but after the mid 5th century BC, with central authority weakened, satrapies became virtually independent. Alexander the Great and his successors retained the satraps.