protocol

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   code of correct conduct

   safety protocols

2. 2
   noun

   computational rules determining the format and transmission of data

   The protocol for hypertext involves status codes, such as 404.

3. 3
   noun

   The minutes, or official record, of a negotiation or transaction; especially a document drawn up officially which forms the legal basis for subsequent agreements based on it.

   Another account says that, on the morning of the 31st of May, the king delivered to the prince-royal the crown, the sceptre, and the key of his treasure and gave him his blessing. The privy-counsillor Vockerodt drew up at his desire a protocol of the transaction.

4. 4
   noun

   An official record of a diplomatic meeting or negotiation; later specifically, a draft document setting out agreements to be signed into force by a subsequent formal treaty.

   The terms of this protocol formed the basis for the Treaty of London signed by the British, French and Russian governments on 6 July 1827.

5. 5
   noun

   An amendment to an official treaty.

   The 1992 Protocol amended the definitions of other terms, including ‘ship’, ‘oil’ and ‘incident’: Art. 2.

6. 6
   noun

   The first leaf of a roll of papyrus, or the official mark typically found on such a page.

   They marked the beginning of each scroll with their protocol, a practice that continued in the papyrus trade in the Byzantine Empire [...] into the Islamic period, when there were bilingual protocols in Greek and Arabic.

7. 7
   noun

   The official formulas which appeared at the beginning or end of certain official documents such as charters, papal bulls etc.

   The protocol of the bull contains elements that appear to be formulaic by the time of John XVIII 's pontificate.

8. 8
   noun

   The original notes of observations made during an experiment.

   The following is an abstract of the protocol of the experiment: Tumour extract.—A measured 16 c.c. of minced Rous Sarcoma tissue was ground with sand and extracted with 400 c.c. of 0.8-per-cent. saline.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French protocolle, protocole (“document, record”), from Late Latin protocollum (“the first sheet of a volume (on which contents and errata were written)”), from Byzantine Greek πρωτόκολλον (prōtókollon, “first sheet glued onto a manuscript”), from πρῶτος (prôtos, “first”) + κόλλα (kólla, “glue”).