Etymology

Literally "protector of the province", from 𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎶 ‎(xšaça-, “realm, province”) and *pāvā ‎(“protector”), from verbal root 𐎱𐎠𐎮𐎹 ‎(√pā, “to protect”). Akin to Sanskrit क्षत्रप ‎(kṣatrapa, “governor”). Compare also Old Armenian շահապ ‎(šahap).