Unless specified to the contrary, the following words whenever used in these rules shall have the following meanings:
(1) The word "court" shall include the judge of any one of the several Probate Courts of this state. (2) The words "petitioner" and "petition" shall include "applicant" and "application" where appropriate in context. (3) The term "plaintiff's attorney" or "defendant's attorney" or any like term shall include the party appearing without counsel. (4) The word "proceeding" means a course of procedure invoking the jurisdiction of the judge to grant a judgment or take other appropriate action or the jurisdiction of the register to grant informal probate or appointment. (5) The word "register" shall mean the register of the Probate Court in which the action is pending.