Provost
Provost , noun
[Old French provost (Latin prae and pro being confused), French prevôt, from Latin praepositus placed before, a chief, from praeponere to place before: compare Anglo-Saxon prāfost, prōfast. See Preposition, and compare 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. [Obsolete] — Shakespeare
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.
Collocations (1)
Provost marshal (Military) , 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. An officer who has charge of prisoners on trial by court-martial, serves notices to witnesses, etc.