noun

1. a person who governs; esp.,
   1. a person appointed to govern a dependency, province, town, fort, etc.
   2. ☆ the elected head of any state of the U.S.
   3. any of the group of persons who direct an organization or institution the board of governors of a hospital
   4. Chiefly Brit. the person in charge of an organization or institution, as a prison
2. a mechanical device for automatically controlling the speed of an engine or motor as by regulating the intake of fuel, steam, etc.
3. Brit., Informal a person having authority; esp., one's father or employer: as a term of address, somewhat old-fashioned

Etymology: ME governour < OFr governeor < L gubernator, a pilot, steersman, governor