The term 'HIGH-RANKING OTTOMAN' refers to a person of high rank in the Ottoman Empire. The two crossword solutions for this term are 'AGA' and 'PASHA'. An 'AGA' was a high-ranking military officer in the Ottoman Empire, while a 'PASHA' was a high-ranking civil or military official. Both titles were given to individuals who had achieved a high level of success and were considered to be of great importance to the Ottoman Empire.