pro·vost / ˈprōˌvōst/ • n. 1. a senior administrative officer in certain colleges and universities. ∎ Brit. the head of certain university colleges, esp. at Oxford or Cambridge, and public schools.2. the head of a chapter in a cathedral. ∎  the Protestant minister of the principal church of a town or district in Germany and certain other European countries. ∎ hist. the head of a Christian community.3. short for provost marshal.4. Scottish term for mayor.5. hist. the chief magistrate of a French or other European town.DERIVATIVES: pro·vost·ship / -ˌship/ n.

provost official set over others (in various spec. uses). Late OE. profost (also prafost), corr. to MLG., MDu. provest, MDu. proofst (Du. proost), OHG. probost (G. probst, propst), ONorw. prófastr; in ME. reinforced from AN. provost (also prevost, modF. prévôt) — medL. prōpositus, used alongside præpositus, sb. use of pp. of L. præpōnere place in front, set in authority, f. præ PRE-, PRO-1 + pōnere place.