Prov"ost (?), n. [OF. provost (L. prae and pro being confused), F. prevôt, fr. L. praepositus placed before, a chief, fr. praeponere to place before: cf. AS. prāfost, prōfast. 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.
&fist; 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.
Hear it pronounced