coroner

Etymology

From Middle English coroner, from Old French curuner, from Medieval Latin custōs placitōrum corōnae (“guardian of the crown's pleas”). The function was originally to protect royal properties.

noun

1. (Commonwealth, Japan, law) A public official who presides over an inquest into unnatural deaths, and who may have (or historically had) additional powers such as investigating cases of treasure trove.
2. (Canada, US, medicine) A medical doctor who performs autopsies and determines time and cause of death from a scientific standpoint.
3. (Isle of Man) The administrative head of a sheading.