Bailiff Definition

bālĭf
bailiffs
noun
A court attendant entrusted with duties such as the maintenance of order in a courtroom during a trial.
American Heritage
A deputy sheriff who serves processes, etc.
Webster's New World
An official who assists a British sheriff and who has the power to execute writs, processes, and arrests.
American Heritage
A court officer who guards the jurors, maintains order in the courtroom, etc.
Webster's New World
An overseer of an estate; a steward.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Bailiff

Noun

Singular:
bailiff
Plural:
bailiffs

Origin of Bailiff

  • Middle English baillif from Old French baillis baillif- overseer of an estate, steward from Medieval Latin bāiulīvus from Latin bāiulus carrier

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Anglo-Norman and Old French bailif (plural bailis), Late Latin *bāiulivus. Compare Modern French bailli

    From Wiktionary

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