bailiff
pronunciation
How to pronounce bailiff in British English:
UK [ˈbeɪlɪf]
How to pronounce bailiff in American English:
US [ˈbelɪf]
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- Noun:
- an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
Word Origin
- bailiff
- bailiff: [13] Latin bājulus meant literally ‘carrier’ (it is probably the ultimate source of English bail in some if not all of its uses). It developed the metaphorical meaning ‘person in charge, administrator’, which passed, via the hypothetical medieval adjectival form *bājulīvus, into Old French as baillif, and hence into English.=> bail
- bailiff (n.)
- mid-13c., from Old French baillif (12c., nominative baillis) "administrative official, deputy," from Vulgar Latin *bajulivus "official in charge of a castle," from Latin bajulus "porter," which is of unknown origin. Used in Middle English of a public administrator of a district, a chief officer of a Hundred, or an officer under a sheriff.
Example
- 1. And 20 extra years for dr. t and the women ! Bailiff , take him away !
- 2. Neither judge nor bailiff is known there .
- 3. My bailiff tells me you are quite the proper person .
- 4. I hope you want to avoid the whole story with the police and the bailiff .
- 5. Irene works as a deputy marshal , serving subpoenas , evicting lax tenants and serving as a bailiff in courts .