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First published 1986 (DOST Vol. VI).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Provest, -eist, n. Also: prow- and -este; -iest; -ist, -yst; proves; probist. [ME prouest (of Bruges; Manning), proveste (of Paris; north., a1400), e.m.E. provest (once, in Market Harb. Records, 1521), OE profest (a900) beside profost Provost n., ON profástr (c1160 in Norway), Norw. provast, -est, MSw. provast, -est, etc., also proost, MDa. provæst, -est, MLG provest, prōfst, prōst, MFris., MDu. prōvest, MHG probest.] A provost, in various usual senses.Possess., with and without infl.

1. The head of a chapter, or of a community of religious; the prior of a convent or monastery; the chief dignitary of a collegiate church. c1420 Wynt. viii 457.
The prowest off Marsyle, Bathe doctor in canown and cyvile c1450-2 Howlat 689 (A).
Abbotis of ordouris Prowestis and priouris 1454 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 260. 1467 Rep. Boyle Mun. 306/2.
Prouest of the colleg kirk of our Lady … sitwat within the cite of Sanctandris c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 153.
j red cap of vellowis … for the prouest 1501 Treas. Acc. II 75.
The provest of Bothuile 1502–3 Ib. 360.
Maister Gawin Douglas provest of Sanct Gelis kirk 1526 Reg. Soltre 93.
Prowest, prebendaris, bedmen and hospitularis of the Trinite College 1531–2 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 74. 1539 Treas. Acc. VII 207.
To Schir Alexander Scott, provest of Corstorphene, for his lauboris ditand the Rollis c1560 Old Ross-shire I 13.
Of the lands haldin of the provest and kyrk of Tayne 1563 Reg. Privy S. V i 351/1.
Hir weillbelovit clerk, Johnne Campbell, provest of Kilmun 1573 Ib. VI 372/1.
Ordinand the said Archibald maister and provest of the hospitall of Auld Abirdene liand besyde the cathedrall kirk thairof … quhilk office and provestrie now vakis and pertenis to oure soverane lordis dispositioun be the lawis and custume ressavit in the realme 1592 Craven Ch. in Orkney II 29.
Signed … Adame, Bischope of Orknay, … Maister Ninian Halcro, provist of Orknay 1629 Argyll Rentals I. 1641 Acts V 433/1.
The proveist and first prebendare of the Colledge kirke of Corstorphine a1691 Sir George Mackenzie in Macfarlane's Geog. Coll. III 79.
There were, in time of popery, collegiate churches built … for singing of mass, which were govern'd by a provest, and some for singing, who were called prebends

2. Only in St. Andrews University: The head or principal of a college.Orig. combining the duties of provost of a collegiate church with those of a principal. 1450 Coll. St. Salvator 55/12.]
[Quarum una erit Magister in Theologica Facultate qui Prepositus dicti Collegii intitulabitur 1524 Balfour Pract. 614.
That all provestis, maisteris, regentis, and uther studentis … makand actual residence … within ony universities within this realme sall be fre … fra all taxatiounis 1525 Comm. Univ. III (St. A.) App. 180.
Maister Hew Spens, provest of Sanct Salvatouris College 1574–5 Reg. Privy S. VII 11/1.
The provestrie of the New College … vacand be deceis of … Johnne lait Archebischop of Sanctandrois, last provest of the said college, Maister Robert Hammiltoun … is lauchfullie electit to the said office a1578 Pitsc. II 161/8.
Christopher Goodeman … remanit ane lang tyme in Sanctandrois coledge [I. and was minister thairof and provest of Santlennartis]

b. transf. The provost's stall. — c1500 Coll. St. Salvator 158.
Ane rationale divinorum befor the prouest chenyeit Ib. 159 n.¹
[A] brod of brass [and a] cussyng [that] lay befoir provest

3. One to whom authority to govern is delegated by the ruling power; a prefect or governor. b. A leader; a general.In early use, usu. rendering L. præpositus or præfectus.(1) a1400 Leg. S. vi 9.
Gundoforus … nov has send his proveste [L. præpositum] here c1420 Wynt. v 983.
For he wes prowest off the towne [L. urbis præfectum] c1520-c1535 Nisbet 2 Cor. xi 32.
The provest of Damask [L. Damasci præpositus] 1533 Boece 240.
Quha wald first ascend the dyke suld be made provest of Camelodune a1538 Abell 57 (bis) b.
Be bayn Makdonald tir maid be the kinge prouest of the Ylis 1549 Compl. 87/25.
He [Darius] send his prouest Tasifernes vitht gold and siluer to Lacedemonia(2) 1535 Stewart 8426.
Thair principall provest than wes slane

4. As the designation of various other officers or officials. 1533 Bell. Livy II 71/6.
Minucius was provest of victalis for this ȝere 1544 Treas. Acc. VIII 271.
Ane band of j^c men of weyr … to the capitane … to the provest of the said band … to foure serjanis 1560 Rolland Seven S. 1606.
Prouestis, sergands, iewillours and officers 1596 Dalr. II 279/10.
The laird of Stainhous prouist of the castel … schot the gret gunis

5. The head of a municipal corporation or burgh; the chief magistrate of a town. Also possess. and attrib.Representing the med. L. prepositus and displacing earlier alderman in this sense, s.v. Alderman n. b.For a note on the distinction developed between prepositus and the formerly synonymous ballivus, see Aberd. B. Rec. (S.H.S.), cii n. 11.By far, more common than Provost throughout the period.For numerous further instances, see the various volumes of the Scottish Burgh Record Society or other burgh records.See also Baillie n.¹ 1, Bailȝe n.¹ 2, Communité n. 1, Counsail n. 2 d.See also lord provest, Lord n. 29 b and Principal(l adj. 1 c (2).(1) 1387 Edinb. Chart. 35.
Androw Yutsoun prowest of the Burgh of Edynburgh and the communite of that ylke a 1495 Treas. Acc. I 219.
Tane be Master Alexander Schaw, the provest of the toune beand present 1516 Edinb. B. Rec. I 159.
Dauid Mailvill provest … hes frelie gevin over … the bigging that he hes maid 1623 Aberd. Council Lett. I 204.
To the richt honorabill George Nicolsone provest of Aberdene 1655 Ib. III 253.
Patrick Leslie, leat provest 1680 Torry Coal & Salt Wks. 81b.
For carrying of … provest Milnes meall fra peir to gairnells 1698 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 269.
Provest Anderson, then provest, to subscrive the said margine(b) 1549 Hossack Kirkwall 95.
Henry Sinclair proveist 1667 Peebles B. Rec. II 76.
[Punished] for upbraiding Alexander Williamsone, present proveist 1671 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. MS 2 Oct. 1674 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 17 Oct.
With umquhill proveist Fullartouns skair(c) 1555 Conv. Burghs I 8.
Prouyst 1596 Dalr. II 278/13.
Adam Ottirburne prouist of the toune 1660 Irvine Mun. II 87.
Provist(2) 1450 Edinb. Chart. 70.
Be oure well belovettis the provest and communite of Edynburgh 1483 Perth Guildry 107 (Dec.). 1496 Acta Conc. II 40. 1496 Acts II 238/2.
That tharfor all baronis provestis and baillies of burrowis … that hes the reule and directioune of throchtfairis and hostillaris … mak diligent inquisitioune … of the price of vittallis 1514 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. I 153 (see President n. 2 (1)). 1529 Stirling B. Rec. I 37.
The provest and baillies hais liessent … the fleschouris to [etc.] 1529 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I 395. 1545 Reg. Privy S. III 189/2.
For contemptioun, lichlying of, and dissobeying of the said provest and baillies in jugement 1547 Elgin Rec. I 92. 1549 Banff Ann. I 25. 1556 Inverness Rec. I 2.
Prowest 1562-3 Winȝet I 2/17.
Ane declamatioun to the honourable prouest, baillies, and counsell of Edinburgh 1580–1 Edinb. B. Rec. IV 197.
Ane lettre mesive to be derect to the prouest, baillies and counsall of Linlithgow 1585 Forres B. Ct. 13 Dec.
[That he] sall nocht purches hear lordschipis bot the provest & balleis of this burcht 1626–7 Misc. Spald. C. V 102.
Prowest(b) 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I 78.
Be the proues bailȝes and counsale 1582–3 Perth B. Ct. 11 Feb.
Tua breifis … direct to the proues and bailȝeis(c) 1508 Aberd. B. Rec. I 439.
Be the proveistis baillis and counsaill 1560 Digest Justiciary Proc. C. 13.
Quhilk seditioun … the said proweist and bealleis … differit to the morne nixt thairefter 1630 Dumbarton B. Rec. 34.
Proveist 1652 Peebles B. Rec. II 7.
The proveist and baillies to compeir befor the judges and Edinburgh 1654 Rothesay B. Rec. 2. 1683 Martine Reliq. Divi Andreae 127.
The proveist, baillies, and councill shall have the free liteing and electing of their owne magistrates(3) 1547 Treas. Acc. IX 95.
With writtinges of my lorde governoures to the provest of Linlithqw 1554 E. Loth. Antiq. Soc. VII 48.
To the provest of the said burgh of fye a1578 Pitsc. II 104/6. 1596 Dalr. II 198/23.
The prouist of Edinburgh, quhom the burgesses had elected 1630 Aberd. Council Lett. I 317.
I leave to the toun of Aberdien proveist, baillies or councell theirof, sex hundreth merks 1630 Justiciary Cases I 145. c1650 Spalding II 391.
The prouest of Dumfreis … wes heidit … for receaving of sum of the banderis within the toune 1665 Laing MSS I 346.
It is not heir with the provest of Edinburgh as with the lord major of London(4) 1454 Liber Coll. Glasg. 176.
Johne Steuart the first provest that was in the cite of Glasgw 1530 Edinb. B. Rec. II 27.
That … na seruand woman … pas to the bordall except scho haif licence of the prouest for gud rationabill causis 1540 Lynd. Sat. 4308 (Bann.).
I wald the provest wald tak in heid, Of ȝone middingis to mak remeid 1546 (c1580) Edinb. B. Rec. II 122.
That thair be xv persouns … to pas with the provest weill bodin with jak, gavilling and halbart c1552 Lynd. Mon. 5761. 1557–8 Edinb. B. Rec. III 16.
Maitland of Leithingtoun to be thair president induring the tyme of the said prouestis absence 1561 Crim. Trials I i 410. 1562–3 Edinb. Skinners in Bk. Old Edinb. C. VI 80.
For ane man to wait one the prowest of [= on] Hallowday, ii s. 1564 (c1650) Dundee B. Laws 30.
It is statut … that the provest, bailles and clerk be every juditiall day in the toolbuith for doeing of justice 1567 Inverness Rec. I 147.
The layne of ane horse to the prowest to ryde to the parliament 1574 Glasgow B. Rec. I 22.
For creatioun and presenting of lytis for the baillies and prouest c1575 Balfour Pract. 84.
The provest, as schiref of the burgh of Edinburgh 1584 Acts III 362/1.
That nane haif vote in lyting voitting or electing of the provest, baillies [etc.] … bot the personis heirefter following 1671 Dunferm. Coal Acc. 3b.
Spent when the prouest & chalmerland marked doun the new senk 1685 Skene Mem. Burghs 134, 135.
Concerning the duties and office of the provest … The first and chiefest magistrat in all burghs-royal is the provest(b) 1670 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. MS 2 April.
Proveist 1693 Glasgow B. Rec. IV 81.
Neither yee, Sir, nor the proveist dare put me in prison 1695 Peebles B. Rec. II 151.
He heard him call the proveist a daft drunken dog(5) 1510 Reg. Privy S. I 325/2.
As the said Alexander commoun clerk of Perth is now chosin provest of the sammyn for this instant ȝere 1517 Wigtown B. Ct. 69a.
The consell and comunte of Wigtoun hais chosin Patrik M^cKe prouest for a ȝeir 1540 Selkirk B. Ct. (ed.) 219.
This forsaid inquest … findis Jhone Mithag abyll to be provest for ane yeir and als schereff within the burgh 1547 Elgin Rec. I 91.
The haill communate hes electit and menit Sanct Geill thair patroun provest for ane ȝeyr nyxt to cum 1558-66 Knox I 357.
The laird of Killfaunes, insett provest be the quene 1569 Prestwick B. Rec. 71.
Chosen ourisman & prowest Dauid Blayr 1578–9 Reg. Privy C. III 69.
That na man be chosin provest baillies or auldermen within burgh bot they that ar honest and substantious burgessis merchantis and indwellaris of burrowis a1595 Cullen Chron. Aberd. 31.
Johne Cullen … was ellectit and chossin prowest be consentt of the haill towne 1642 Glasgow B. Rec. II 52.
That no provest sall be ather lyted or choosen provest but for two yeers togidder at maist 1689 Ib. III 434.(6) 1559–60 Reg. Privy S. V i 160/2.
To elect … Schir Nichole in provest to thame of the samin [Jedburgh] 1566 Edinb. B. Rec. III 219.
That ye continew … Sir Symoun Prestoun … in provest(7) 1530 Aberd. B. Rec. I xxxvi.
Ane writin send be your lordschip to our prouest 1570 Sat. P. xxiii 51.
In counsell hous the toun [sc. Edinburgh] … Cheissit thé [Kirkcaldy of Grange] to be thair prouest and thair mair 1596 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 328. 1600 Crim. Trials II 198.
Lat sie our prouest! How dois our prouest [sc. the Earl of Gowrie]? 1600 Sc. Hist. Rev. XXXVI l 10.
Fy on yow, bailleis and haill toune! Is this all the help ye mak this day to your provest? 1643 Dumfries & Galloway Soc. 3 Ser. XXXVI 191.
The balȝeis and counsell … have electit and chosine William Glendonyng ther proveist [as] captaine(b) 1596 Dalr. I 127/19.
Cities and tounes haue lykwyse thair awne probistis [marg. prouist] bailȝies [etc.](8) 1562 Inverness Rec. I 76.
The prouest wes nocht ane lachfull prouest within the bruch 1600 Crim. Trials II 195.
Theiwis! ȝe ar vnworthie of sic ane prouest(b) 1588 Kirkcaldy B. Rec. 119.
Dyvers vther tounis ar subvertit and under greit thraldome and servitude to thair proviest … besides mony uther inconveniences, thair followes upon thair haiffing off a proviest(9) a1578 Pitsc. II 134/21.
Then the bischope … said ‘prowist, ȝe ken ȝe ar my iudge'(10) 1582 Reg. Privy C. III 482.
The saidis personis, ingyraris of thameselffis in the saidis offices of provest, baillies, and counsale

b. The chief magistrate of a town in France or Flanders, cf. le prevost de Paris ‘the provost of justice’ (Cotgrave, 1611). 1456 Hay I 133/2.
As gif I had lent to the provest of Paris my hous to duell in for certayne tyme 1495 Halyb. 21.
Paid in Medylburgh to the provest, Valtyr Bartrens

6. possess., with and without infl., and attrib., in various of the above senses.Prowist penny, regular due payable by members of the St. Andrews baxters craft. (The explanation of the name is not apparent.)(1) 1525 Aberd. B. Rec. I 113.
Without the prowest lischence 1531 Reg. Soltre 104.
He sall put nay bestiall vpon the inland girs bot to be kepit for the provestis hors Ib.
Johne Foulirtowne … to occupy the third rig … induring the said provest gudwill without allegeing off ony fordir kindnes 1552 Coll. St. Salvator 160.
Thre siluer how pecis … beying in the prowest kepe 1555 Crail Ch. Reg. 65.
Arres werk for the provest stalle 1555–6 Edinb. Old Acc. II 55.
For … Eistland buird to the provest seittis 1562–3 Inverness Rec. I 97.
To be put in the gowis induring the prowestis will 1569 Edinb. B. Rec. III 265.
The sovme of ten li. for the provest ox 1581 Kirkcudbr. B. Rec. I 150.
And sall pay na burges siluer be ressoun it is the prouestis fredome 1595 Edinb. D. Guild Acc. MS 565.
The provestis loft 1651 Laing MSS I 270.
I haue at your prouest desuyer to the great prejudis of this garrison [etc.] 1657 Rothesay B. Rec. 15.
The persounes following [are] to be on the proveist laittes(2) 1589 St. A. Baxter Bks. 44.
That quhatsumewir brother of craft participatis … ony pairt of the silver presentlie within the box pay all tyme heireftir yeirlie and termelie thair prowist penny vndir the paine of depriuitioun fra baiking