bailiff

[bey-lif]

noun

1. an officer, similar to a sheriff or a sheriff's deputy, employed to execute writs and processes, make arrests, keep order in the court, etc.

2. (in Britain) a person charged with local administrative authority, or the chief magistrate in certain towns.

3. (especially in Britain) an overseer of a landed estate or farm.

bailiff

/ ˈbeɪlɪf /

noun

1. the agent or steward of a landlord or landowner

2. a sheriff's officer who serves writs and summonses, makes arrests, and ensures that the sentences of the court are carried out

3. (formerly) a high official having judicial powers

4. an official having custody of prisoners appearing in court

Other Word Forms

• bailiffship noun
• subbailiff noun
• underbailiff noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of bailiff¹

1250–1300; Middle English baillif < Old French, equivalent to bail custody ( bail ¹ ) + -if -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of bailiff¹

C13: from Old French baillif , from bail custody; see _bail ¹

Example Sentences

“From the bench, Judge Monguia stated that Judge Marcus was lucky the bailiff was not there, otherwise he would have ordered her to ‘shoot’ Judge Marcus or words to that effect.”

From Los Angeles Times

He received a bankruptcy petition on Christmas Eve, and bailiffs turned up at the training ground of Oxford United, where he works as a coach.

From BBC

Housing charity Shelter said it was "unconscionable" that "renters continue to be marched out of their homes by bailiffs because of an unfair policy that the government said would be scrapped immediately".

From BBC

With bailiffs looming, she turned to her local church and met Yvette Robinson, a CAP debt coach.

From BBC

"As we were preparing to leave the house, and the bailiffs were knocking at the door, we were hiding under the stairs. We were not ready to go," Mrs Winn said.

From BBC

Related Words

• constable