protonotary apostolic

noun

pro·​ton·​o·​tary apostolic prə-ˈtä-nə-ˌter-ē-  prō-tə-ˈnä-tə-rē- 

variants or prothonotary apostolic

prə-ˈthä-nə-ˌter-ē- 

ˌprō-thə-ˈnä-tə-rē-

plural protonotaries apostolic or prothonotaries apostolic

: a priest of the chief college of the papal curia who keeps records of consistories and canonizations and signs papal bulls

also : an honorary member of this college

Word History

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined above