(Heb. Parsi', פִּרְסַי; Sept. Περσής; Vulg. Perses), the name of the people who inhabited the country called above "Persia Proper," and who thence conquered a mighty empire. There is reason to believe that the Persians were of the same race as the Medes, both being branches of the great Aryan stock, which under various names established their sway over the whole tract between Mesopotamia and Burmah. The native form of the name is Parsa, which the Hebrew פִּרְסַי fairly represents, and which remains but little changed in the modern ‘ Parsee." It is conjectured to signify "the Tigers." (See PERSIA).