protectorate

Meanings

1. Government by a protector; especially, The Protectorate: government of England, Scotland, and Ireland between 1653 and 1659 under the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth Oliver Cromwell, later his son Richard Cromwell.
2. The office or position of the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth.
3. The authority assumed by a state over another state deemed inferior or dependent, whereby the former protects the latter from invasion and shares in the management of its affairs but the protected state retains its nominal sovereignty.
4. An autonomous state under protectorate.
5. The office or position of protector (sense 5).

1. The British state from 1653 to 1659, under Oliver Cromwell and then Richard Cromwell.

Etymology

From protector + -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, a system ruled by people of such office).