Meaning

noun a formal and solemn declaration of objection

noun the act of protesting; a public (often organized) manifestation of dissent

noun the act of making a strong public expression of disagreement and disapproval

originPIE word *tréyes From the Middle English verb protesten, from Old French protester, from Latin prōtestārī, from prō + testor, from testis (“witness”).

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0