bailiwick (2008-03-16)

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciation: ['bey-li-wik]

Definition: Originally, this word meant the jurisdiction of a bailiff; now it refers to one's proper sphere of influence or knowledge.

Usage: This is an important word in defining yourself to others: "Well, I eat out a lot; the kitchen is not my bailiwick," or: "Lawn mower repair is not my bailiwick; I just design rockets." You might even stretch it to include educational disciplines, "Geography is not my bailiwick but I'm a whiz at math."

Suggested Usage: There are no current adjectives or verbs. Not much you can do with this word derivationally.

Etymology: From Middle English bailliwik(e) "district under the jurisdiction of a bailiff (sheriff's deputy who delivers writs)" from bailie (or bailiff) + wik(e) "village, district." Bailiff is from Latin bâjulus "carrier, one who bears." Wick is from Old English wic "hamlet or town district." It is akin to Latin vicus "town, district" (as in "vicinity" and "vicar"), Greek oikos "house," and Sanskrit visah "house." With the ancient suffix "-sla" (weik-sla-) the same root resulted in "villa," "village," and the suffix -ville. "Wick" itself remained in English as a locative suffix in two forms: -wick, as in Eastwick, Brunswick and -wich, as in Greenwich, Sandwich. (Teresa Guillien found this historically interesting word in her lexical bailiwick and shared it with us. We are so glad.)