[pro.vost] n [ME, fr. OE profost & OF provost, fr. ML propositus, alter. of praepositus, fr. L, one in charge, director, fr. pp. of praeponere to place at the head--more at preposition] (bef. 12c) 1: the chief dignitary of a collegiate or cathedral chapter
2: the chief magistrate of a Scottish burgh
3: the keeper of a prison
4: a high-ranking university administrative officer