Definition of: prothonotary

(prō·thon′ə·ter′ē, prō′thə·nō′·tər·ē) noun plural ·tar·ies
1. A chief clerk; specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, one of the seven (formerly twelve) ecclesiastics at Rome who keep the registry of important pontifical proceedings, or one having the title and some of the associated privileges.
2. In some States of the United States, a probate officer. Also spelled protonotary. [<LL protonotarius <LGk. prōtonotarios <Gk. prōtos first + L notarius. See NOTARY.]
—pro·thon′o·tar′i·al (-târ′ē·əl) adjective