/ ˈprɒvəst; NAmE ˈproʊvoʊst/ (also Provost ) noun
1.
(in Britain) the person in charge of a college at some universities
2.
(in the US) a senior member of the staff who organize the affairs of some universities
3.
(in Scotland) the head of a council in some towns, cities and districts
—compare mayor
4.
the head of a group of priests belonging to a particular cathedral
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WORD ORIGIN
late Old English profost head of a chapter, prior , reinforced in Middle English by Anglo-Norman French provost , from medieval Latin propositus , synonym of Latin praepositus head, chief, past participle of praeponere set over, from prae ahead + ponere to place.