Etymology

From Mongolian ᠪᠠᠭᠰᠢ ‎(baɣsi, “master, trainer, teacher”) or Manchu ᠪᠠᡴᡧᡳ ‎(bakši, “scholar”), in turn from Chinese 博士 (MC pwɑk̚ d͡ʒɨ^X, “master”).

Compare 把戲／把戏 (bǎxì, “circus tricks; cheap tricks”).

Pronunciation