(historical) A region in northeastern Iran. / A former country in Central and Western Asia; The empire ruled by dynasts from Parthia; Parthian Empire; Arsacid Empire.

Relating to Parthia or Parthians. / Delivered as if in retreat. (An allusion to the Parthian battle tactic of firing arrows backwards from horseback while apparently in retreat.)

A native or inhabitant of Parthia. / An extinct Western Iranian language that was spoken in Parthia.

plural of Parthian

(historical) A military maneuver where archers on horseback turned their bodies back in full gallop to shoot at the pursuing enemy.

plural of Parthian shot

(historical) An ancient empire of Western Asia founded as a kingdom by Arsaces I with his 3rd-century-BCE conquest of Parthia (only recently a satrapy of the Seleucid Empire) and subsequently greatly expanded by Mithridates I.