coarb

plural coarbs · alternative comarb · alternative comharb

1. historicalThe successor to the founder of a religious institution.

   These abbots were sometimes bishops; but whether they were bishops or of lower rank in the ministry, their authority was inherent in their office of coarb.

   1920, H. J. Lawlor, St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh

2. historicalThe head of one of the families composing an old Irish sept.