bailiff

bai-liff · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    [US]An officer of the court who maintains order and assists the judge.

  2. 2.

    [British]A person employed to manage an estate or farm.

  3. 3.

    [British]A law enforcement agent who serves writs and makes arrests for debt.

Forms

plural: bailiffs

Related words

See also: court, marshal, officer, sheriff
Synonyms: marshal, officer, sheriff

Etymology

From Old French baillif ("administrator"), from bail ("custody, jurisdiction"), ultimately from Latin bajulare ("to carry a burden").