Definition of "volost" [vo•lost]

• In the greater part of Russia, a division for local government consisting of a group of mirs, or village communities; a canton. (noun)

Gnu Collaboartive International Dictionary of English: licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

• "It happened sometimes that one of these elders, who was considered unusually wise or powerful, became chief of the volost, a dignity which might become hereditary."
• "They were judged by elected courts, that is juries, either in the mir court or in that of the volost (district)."
• "With great difficulty there were established organs of a local, autonomous administration, volost and district zemstvos, which were to furnish a basis of organization to the government zemstvos."