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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.

Provincial(l, n. and adj. Also: prowin-, provyn- and -ciale, -siall, -tial(l; -cill; -sall. [ME and e.m.E. prouincial, -uyncial (both Piers Plowman), -vyncyall, -tiall (both 15th c.) adj. (1377) and noun (1362), F. provincial (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), L. prōvinciālis f. prōvincia Province n.]

A. noun.

1. The provincial of a religious order in a district or province. (Cf. prec. 3).‘A religious who is the immediate major superior in a religious institute of three or more canonically erected houses. The office originated in the 13th century among the Dominican and Franciscan friars’ (Catholic Encyclopædia).Also comb. 1412 Laing Chart. 24.
[Indenture between] Frere Willyam Cokar than beande prouincial of the Quite Freris of Scotlande ane wyth the hale prouincial beande at Irrwyn [etc.] 1496 Acta Conc. II 32.
The provynciale or priour of the Freris Predicatouris of Wigtoune 1511 Reg. Privy S. I 345/1.
Provinciall 1513 Treas. Acc. IV 408.
For the cariagis of … the provincialis bukis of the Blak Freris of Edinburgh to Striveling 1531 Bell. Boece II 357.
The provincialis wardanis and ministeris of all beggand freiris 1540 Lynd. Sat. 3169 (Ch.).
Quhat gif I find sum halie provinciall Or minister of the gray freiris all 1543 Elgin Rec. I 77.
Ane protectioun … to the provinciall, prioris, bredyr and sisteris of the said ordour within thes realme 1553 Blackfriars Perth 233. 1567–8 Treas. Acc. XII 112.
Sumtyme provinciale of the quhite freiris of Abirdene 1578 Glasg. Univ. Mun. I 118.
With out the consenting of the Generall or Provintiall 1582 Anal. Scot. I 283.
Provinsall 1622-6 Bisset II 2/4, 6.
This extract following wes fund be the provinciall of the quhyte or carmelat freiris of Abirdene … the principall provynciall of the said freiris and of Scotland for the tyme — 1514 Acta Conc. Publ. Aff. 26.
And the twa provincialis … blak freris and gray freris to pas to Lithqwcomb. 1528 Blackfriars Perth 192.
Our provincial general of our ordour within the realme of Scotland

2. Only Sc. A provincial council or, after the Reformation, a provincial synod. Also attrib.Cf. Province n. 3 b, also B below. a1578 Pitsc. II 140/27.
The bischopis … convenit ane provintial at Edinburgh … to be haldin in the blak freiris — 1608 in Melvill 746.
That the Generall Assemblie and Provinciallis sould be restorit to thair auld integritie 1641 Kingarth Par. Rec. 1. a1650 Row 25. 1647 Argyll Synod I 102.
The Provinciall holdine at Clachandysart 1654 Lamont Diary 81.
The fast appointed by the prouinciall of Fyfe at Kirkekaldie 1658 Glasgow B. Rec. II 410.
That James Barnes … attend and wait wpon the provinsiall for stoping of the call of Mr. Ralph Rodgerattrib. 1650 Kingarth Par. Rec. 26.
Delayed till after the Provinciall meitting

B. adj. Of, or pertaining to a. an ecclesiastical province or b. a provincial synod.Also, in sense a, as the second element of a compound, or used post-positionally, in minister provincial, see Minister n. 4 b.a. (1) 1558–9 Reg. Episc. Aberd. I lxi.
Under sic panis as is contenit in the Law and actis provinciall — 1622-6 Bisset II 2/12.
Be resson of the distructioun of all sic provinciall places and registeris at the reformatioun of religioun(2) a1538 Abell 84a.
In the prouinciall consal he wes inducit to mariage be the bischep of Sanct Andros 1551 Hamilton Cat. 1 (title).
Johne Archbischop of Sanct Androus … in his provincial counsale 1568 Lyndesay Pref. (S.T.S.) 398.
Thay conuenit thair prouinciall counsellis, thay consultit how thay suld best sustene thair kingdome … quhilk [etc.] a1578 Pitsc. II 47 h. of ch.
Hou the cardinall in the blak freiris held ane prowintiall counsall at Edinburghb. 1578 Second Bk. Disc. in Bk. Univ. Kirk II 499 (see Province n. 3 b). 1579 Reg. Privy S. VII 306/1.
Als weill ouklie as provinsiall assembleis 1588 Edinb. Presb. 24 Sept.
Befoir the prouinciall assemble of Lowthian 1592 Acts III 542/1.
To caus the ordinances maid be the assembleis, provinciallis, nationallis, and generallis to be kepit a1639 Spotsw. Hist. (1655) 296.
That all … done amisse in the provincial assemblies may be redressed 1640 Acts V 278/1.
The … priviledges of this kirke or of hir generall provinciall presbiteriall assemblies and kirke sessiones 1647 Dumfries Treas. Acc. MS 9.
For candell to the prowincill assemblie 1648 Rec. Kirk Scotl. 505.
That approved synods, both provinciall, national and oecumenicall have declared their judgment 1659 Lamont Diary 119.
The prouinciall assembly of Fyfe sat at Cupar