provost marshal

[ proh-voh ]

noun

1. Army. an officer on the staff of a commander, charged with the maintaining of order and with other police functions within a command.
2. Navy. an officer charged with the safekeeping of a prisoner pending trial by court-martial.

provost marshal

/ prəˈvəʊ /

noun

1. the officer in charge of military police and thus responsible for military discipline in a large camp, area, or city

Word History and Origins

Origin of provost marshal¹

First recorded in 1525–35