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. prefectoral adj. prefectorial adj.
[ ME f. OF f. L praefectus past part. of praeficere set in authority over (as PRAE-, facere make) ]