bailiff English · revision 1621

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈbeɪlɪf/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|baillif]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU) [[der|fro|baillif|t=administrative official, deputy]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) from Vulgar Latin ''*bajulivus'' “official in charge of a castle”,^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(AHD) from [[la|bājulus|t=porter, carrier]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Merriam-Webster traces it through Anglo-French ''bail'' “authority, office”, from ''baillier'' “to govern”.^(MW Collegiate) It is related to [[bail]].^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ As a surname in about 1242,^(Barnhart 1995) and from about 1300 a royal officer in a county or district.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ In medieval England the title covered the king's officers generally, including sheriffs and mayors.^(OED 1989) By 1377 it was used of a sheriff's officer who served writs and made arrests,^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) and from the early 14th century of the agent who ran a lord's estate and collected rents.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In the United States it now chiefly means a court officer who keeps order in the courtroom.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * about 1242 – as a surname.^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1297 – a king's officer in a district.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1377 – a sheriff's officer who serves writs and makes arrests.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1531 – the steward of a manor or estate.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1681 – the English name for foreign magistrates such as the French ''bailli''.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[court]] officer who keeps order in the courtroom and attends the judge.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(British)'' An officer under a [[sheriff]] who serves [[writ|alt=writs]] and makes arrests and seizures.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+ # ''(chiefly British)'' The manager of an estate or farm; a [[steward]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bailiffship]]

+ * [[subbailiff]]

+ * [[underbailiff]]

+ * [[bumbailiff]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[bail]]

+ * [[bailee]]

+ * [[bailey]]

+ * [[bailie]]

+ * [[bailiwick]]

+ * [[baillie]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Wiktionary notes that although ''bailiff'' is the usual American term for courtroom security officers, their formal titles vary by jurisdiction.^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}