protocol

The official rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions; a set of established procedures for a process; (computing) rules for data transmission.

• (no common derivatives)

• follow protocol
• breach of protocol
• security protocol
• diplomatic protocol
• medical protocol
• internet protocol

1. 1.The hospital's infection-control protocol requires all staff to wash hands between patients. (established procedure)
2. 2.The ambassador committed a breach of protocol by addressing the queen before being spoken to. (diplomatic rules)

• procedure/prəˈsiːdʒər/— a series of steps — more general
• etiquette/ˈɛtɪkɛt/— conventional rules of behaviour — social
• convention/kənˈvɛnʃən/— accepted way of doing things

from Greek "protokollon" (the first sheet glued to a manuscript) — "protos" (first) + "kolla" (glue) — originally the first page listing contents and rules