bailiff
bailiff Lexical Profile
bailiff Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American An official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, and attends to the judge and jury.
"The judge instructed the bailiff to escort the unruly spectator out of the courtroom."
British A sheriff's officer or legal agent authorized to execute writs, serve legal processes, carry out evictions, and seize property to satisfy unpaid debts.
"After months of unpaid rent and ignored court notices, the landlord hired a bailiff to recover the debt."
British An overseer or steward of a landed estate who manages farming operations, collects rents, and supervises laborers on behalf of the landowner.
"The estate bailiff rode out early in the morning to inspect the tenant farms and check on the harvest."
Word Nuance & Usage
The role of a bailiff differs significantly between the US and the UK: in American English, a bailiff is primarily a courtroom officer who maintains order and guards jurors, whereas in British English, a bailiff is an enforcement agent who visits properties to collect unpaid debts or seize goods.
• Rhymes for bailiff
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old French baillif ('administrative official'), ultimately from Late Latin bajulivus, derived from Latin bajulus ('carrier' or 'porter', later 'steward' or 'manager').