Also erron. landro(o)st. [S. African Du.; f. land LAND sb. + drost (see DROSSARD).] A kind of magistrate in South Africa.
1731. Medley, Kolben’s Cape G. Hope, II. 10. He gave this Land-Drost the powers of a Fiscal … to seize and prosecute all criminals, vagabonds, and disorderly persons.
1888. Times (weekly ed.), 25 May, 7/3. President Kruger appointed as landroost an Austrian gentleman.
1895. C. S. Horne, Story of the L.M.S., 64. The local magistrate, or landdrost.
