\Ad*vow"son\ (?; 277), n. [OE. avoweisoun, OF.
avo["e]son, fr. L. advocatio. Cf. {Advocation}.] (Eng. Law)
The right of presenting to a vacant benefice or living in the
church. [Originally, the relation of a patron (advocatus) or
protector of a benefice, and thus privileged to nominate or
present to it.]
Note: The benefices of the Church of England are in every
      case subjects of presentation. They are nearly 12,000
      in number; the advowson of more than half of them
      belongs to private persons, and of the remainder to the
      crown, bishops, deans and chapters, universities, and
      colleges. --Amer. Cyc.