ˈprɔvəst n. 1
Brit.
the head of
some colleges
esp. at Oxford or Cambridge. 2 Eccl. a the head of a
chapter in a
cathedral. b
hist. the head of a
religious community. 3
Sc. the head of a
municipal corporation or
burgh. 4 the
Protestant minister of the
principal church of a
town etc. in Germany etc. 5 US a
high administrative officer in a
university. 6 = provost
marshal. øprovost
guard US a
body of soldiers
under a provost marshal. provost marshal 1 the head of
military police in camp or on
active service. 2 the master-at-arms of a
ship in
which a court-martial is to be
held. øøprovostship n. [ME f. OE profost & AF provost, prevost f. med.L propositus
for praepositus: see PRAEPOSTOR]