avoyer

plural avoyers

1. historicalobsoleteA chief magistrate of various free imperial cities or cantons of Switzerland.

   the avoyer of Bern

   3 more examples

   the avoyer of Lucerne

   The avoyer in office presided both in the council and senate, in each of which he had no regular, but only a casting vote: the great seal of the republic was in his custody; and a provincial jurisdiction was annexed to his station.

   1800, Joseph Planta, The History of the Helvetic Confederacy, Volume 2, page 257

   1809, Unnamed translator, Lazzaro Spallanzani, Travels in the Two Sicilies and Some Parts of the Apennines, in John Pinkerton, A General Collection of the Best and Most Interesting Voyages and Travels in All Parts of the World, Volume 5, page 717, The reigning avoyer, with a ſceptre in his hand, pronounces an harangue; then delivering up the ſceptre and ſeals, reſigns his dignity, and receives the thanks of the aſſembly, by the mouth of the attorney-general, for his zeal and attention during the year of his government.