{ or, n.; pl.-ries [ LL. protonotarius, fr. Gr. prw^tos first + L. notarius a shorthand writer, a scribe: cf. F. protonotaire. ] 1. A chief notary or clerk. “ My private prothonotary.” Herrick. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Formerly, a chief clerk in the Court of King's Bench and in the Court of Common Pleas, now superseded by the master. [ Eng. ] Wharton. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. A register or chief clerk of a court in certain States of the United States. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. (R. C. Ch.) Formerly, one who had the charge of writing the acts of the martyrs, and the circumstances of their death; now, one of twelve persons, constituting a college in the Roman Curia, whose office is to register pontifical acts and to make and preserve the official record of beatifications. [ 1913 Webster ]
5. (Gr. Ch.) The chief secretary of the patriarch of Constantinople. [ 1913 Webster ]
Prothonotary warbler (Zool.), a small American warbler (Protonotaria citrea). The general color is golden yellow, the back is olivaceous, the rump and tail are ash-color, several outer tail feathers are partly white. [ 1913 Webster ]