Prov ‧ ost BrE AmE , provost /ˈprɒvəst $ ˈproʊvoʊst/ noun [countable]
[ Date: 900-1000 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: Latin praepositus 'someone in charge, leader' , from praeponere 'to put in front' ]
1 . the person in charge of a college in some British universities, especially at Oxford or Cambridge
2 . an important official at a university in the US
3 . old use the leader of the council in some Scottish towns and cities