n.1 the chief administrative officer of certain departments, esp. in France.
2 esp. Brit. a senior pupil in a school etc. authorized to enforce discipline.
3 Rom. Antiq. a senior magistrate or military commander.
Derivatives:
prefectoral adj. prefectorial adj.
Etymology: ME f. OF f. L praefectus past part. of praeficere set in authority over (as PRAE-, facere make)