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Webster's 1913 Dictionary

PARTHIAN

PARTHIAN Par "thi *an, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to ancient Parthia, in Asia. -- n.

Defn: A native Parthia. Parthian arrow, an arrow discharged at an enemy when retreating from him, as was the custom of the ancient Parthians; hence, a parting shot.

New American Oxford Dictionary

Parthia

Par thi a |ˈpärTHēə ˈpɑrθiə | an ancient kingdom that lay southeast of the Caspian Sea in present-day Iran. From c. 250 bc to c. ad 230 the Parthians ruled an empire stretching from the Euphrates to the Indus. DERIVATIVES Par thi an |-THēən |noun & adjective

Parthian shot

Par thi an shot ▶noun another term for parting shot. ORIGIN late 19th cent.: so named because of the trick used by Parthians of shooting arrows backward while in real or pretended flight.

Oxford Dictionary

Parthia

Parthia |ˈpɑːθɪə | an ancient kingdom which lay south-east of the Caspian Sea in present-day Iran. From c. 250 bc to c. 230 ad the Parthians ruled an empire stretching from the Euphrates to the Indus. DERIVATIVES Parthian noun & adjective

Parthian shot

Par |thian shot |ˈpɑːθɪən | ▶noun another term for parting shot. ORIGIN late 19th cent.: so named because of the trick used by Parthians of shooting arrows backwards while in real or pretended flight.