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provost

Pronunciation: /ˈpɹɒvəst/

The English word “provost” has 20 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A dean: the head of a cathedral chapter.
  2. The head of various other ecclesiastical bodies, even (rare, obsolete) muezzins.
  3. The minister of the chief Protestant church of a town or region in Germany, the Low Countries, and Scandinavia.
  4. The head of various colleges and universities.
  5. A ruler.
  6. A mayor: the chief magistrate of a town, particularly (Scotland) the head of a burgh or (historical) the former chiefs of various towns in France, Flanders, or (by extension) other Continental European countries.
  7. A prior: an abbot's second-in-command.
  8. A senior deputy administrator; a vice-president of academic affairs.
  9. A steward or seneschal: a medieval agent given management of a feudal estate or charged with collecting fees.
  10. A title of the archangel Michael.
  11. Any manager or overseer in a medieval or early modern context.
  12. A viceroy.
  13. A governor.
  14. A reeve.
  15. The head of various Roman offices, such as prefect and praetor.
  16. A constable: a medieval or early modern official charged with arresting, holding, and punishing criminals.
  17. An officer of the military police, particularly provost marshal or provost sergeant.
  18. An assistant fencing master.
  19. A provost cell: a military cell or prison.

verb

  1. To be delivered to a provost marshal for punishment.

Etymology

From Middle English, from late Old English prōfost, prāfost, from Late Latin prōpositus, variant of Latin praepositus (“[one] placed in command”). In some senses, via Anglo-Norman provolt; via Anglo-Norman and Old French provost (modern French prévôt). As a Central European ecclesiastical office, via German Propst, Danish provst, etc.

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