PROVOSTS
Noun
provosts
plural of provost
Verb
provosts
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of provost
Source: Wiktionary
PROVOST
Prov"ost, n. Etym: [OF. provost (L. prae and pro being confused), F.
prevôt, fr. L. praepositus placed before, a chief, fr. praeponere to
place before: cf. AS. prafost, profast. See Preposition, and cf.
Propound.]
1. A person who is appointed to superintend, or preside over,
something; the chief magistrate in some cities and towns; as, the
provost of Edinburgh or of Glasgow, answering to the mayor of other
cities; the provost of a college, answering to president; the provost
or head of certain collegiate churches.
2. The keeper of a prison. [Obs.] Shak.
Note: In France, formerly, a provost was an inferior judge who had
cognizance of civil causes. The grand provost of France, or of the
household, had jurisdiction in the king's house, and over its
officers. Provost marshal (often pronounced . (a) (Mil.) An officer
appointed in every army, in the field, to secure the prisoners
confined on charges of a general nature. He also performs such other
duties pertaining to police and discipline as the regulations of the
service or the commander's orders impose upon him. (b) (Nav.) An
officer who has charge of prisoners on trial by court-martial, serves
notices to witnesses, etc.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition