Definition of "provost"

One placed in charge: a head, a chief, particularly:

1. (religion, historical) A dean: the head of a cathedral chapter.

2. (religion) The head of various other ecclesiastical bodies, even (rare, obsolete) muezzins.  examples

3. (religion) The minister of the chief Protestant church of a town or region in Germany, the Low Countries, and Scandinavia.  examples

4. (UK, higher education) The head of various colleges and universities.  examples

5. (obsolete) A ruler.

6. (Scotland) the head of a burgh or (historical) the former chiefs of various towns in France, Flanders, or (by extension) other Continental European countries.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The repairs were completed in the summer of last year, more than ten months after the line had been closed, and the branch was re-opened on June 29, when Mr. T. F. Cameron, Chief Regional Officer, Scottish Region, received Provost J. S. Collin, of Eyemouth, at the station. The 12.42. p.m. train to Burnmouth was signalled out of the station by the Provost, after he had been introduced to the crew.

     1950 January, “Re-Opening of the Eyemouth Branch”, in Railway Magazine, page 52

A senior deputy, a superintendent, particularly:

1. (religion, historical) A prior: an abbot's second-in-command.

2. (US, higher education) A senior deputy administrator; a vice-president of academic affairs.  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • The princess, already a serious and diligent child, was given lessons on constitutional matters by Sir Henry Marten, the provost of Eton, and became aware even then that she should not show emotion and must maintain a certain reserve.

     September 8 2022, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian‎

3. (historical) A steward or seneschal: a medieval agent given management of a feudal estate or charged with collecting fees; (obsolete, sometimes as ~ of Paradise or ~ of Heaven) a title of the archangel Michael.

4. (historical) Any manager or overseer in a medieval or early modern context.

5. (obsolete) A viceroy.

6. (obsolete) A governor.

7. (obsolete) A reeve.

8. (obsolete) The head of various Roman offices, such as prefect and praetor.

9. (historical) A constable: a medieval or early modern official charged with arresting, holding, and punishing criminals.  quotations

   Quotations

   • Here comes Signor Claudio, led by the provostto prison;

     c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene ii], line 113

10. (military) An officer of the military police, particularly provost marshal or provost sergeant.

11. (fencing, historical) An assistant fencing master.

(UK, military slang, obsolete) A provost cell: a military cell or prison.

(UK, transitive, used in passive, obsolete, military slang) To be delivered to a provost marshal for punishment.