Crossword clues for bailiff
bailiff
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
mid-13c., from Old French baillif (12c., nominative baillis) "administrative official, deputy," from Vulgar Latin *bajulivus "official in charge of a castle," from Latin bajulus "porter," which is of unknown origin. Used in Middle English of a public administrator of a district, a chief officer of a Hundred, or an officer under a sheriff.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context legal English) A legal officer to whom some degree of authority, care or jurisdiction is committed. 2 (context British English) The steward or overseer of an estate.
WordNet
n. an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs and processes and make arrests etc.
Wikipedia
A bailiff (from Middle English baillif, Old French baillis, bail "custody, charge, office"; cf. bail, based on the adjectival form, baiulivus, of Latin bajulus, carrier, manager) is a manager, overseer or custodian; a legal officer to whom some degree of authority or jurisdiction is given. Bailiffs are of various kinds and their offices and duties vary greatly.
Another official sometimes referred to as a bailiff was the vogt: see Vogt and Vogt (Switzerland). In the Holy Roman Empire a similar function was performed by the Amtmann.
The Bailiff is the chief justice in each of the Channel Island bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, also serving as president of the legislature and having ceremonial and executive functions. Each bailiwick has possessed its own bailiff since the islands were divided into two jurisdictions in the 13th century. The Bailiffs and Deputy Bailiffs are appointed by the Crown (not by the governments or legislatures of the islands) and may hold office until retirement age (65 in Guernsey, 70 in Jersey).
A bailiff (, ) was the king’s administrative representative during the ancien régime in northern France, where the bailiff was responsible for the application of justice and control of the administration and local finances in his bailiwick ().
Bailiff usually refers to law enforcement officers involved with lower courts of the United Kingdom or providing courtroom security and order in the United States.
Bailiff may refer to:
- bailiff , a medieval governor in areas of northern France
- bailiff , a knight Hospitaller who directed one of its bailiwicks abroad or one of the national associations ("tongues") at its headquarters
- steward, a general manager of medieval estates
- landvogt, a German office
- High Bailiff of the Isle of Man
- bailiffs of Jersey and Guernsey, the chief justice and head of the legislature of the bailwicks of the Channel Islands
- huissier de justice, an office in various European countries
A bailiff was a high official in the Knights Hospitaller who directed one of its bailiwicks abroad or one of the national associations (" tongues") at its headquarters.
Usage examples of "bailiff".
A few hours later the Baron sent his bailiff, who was far more important but had known Granny Aching for longer.
Bailiff rolled up a black-ribboned scroll as Micum and Alec approached.
The bailiff motioned for me to step down, off the witness chair, and I tried desperately to walk upright back to the bench where Baggy was still hunkering down, like a stray dog in a hailstorm.
I not cleared off I should have been run down myself, with a pack of bandog bailiffs at my heels.
The next day was Sunday, the only day on which Madame Cornelis could go abroad without fear of the bailiff.
I took Sara aside, and on hearing that all his trouble was on account of a debt of a hundred and fifty pounds, I asked the bailiff whether we could go away if the debt was paid.
Helikis, where the Masters were absentee landlords and the farms were operated in their name by bailiffs who were themselves of Folkish blood.
The bailiff of the manor provides furmety and mustard, and delivers to each shepherd a slice of cheese and a penny roll.
The seals were already affixed on all the doors, and I was not even allowed to go to my room, for a keeper had been left there by the bailiff.
Magistrates, councillors, jurisconsults, judges, barristers, officers for the crown, bailiffs, attorneys, clerks of the court, procurators, solicitors, and agents of various kinds, represent or misrepresent Justice.
I am bailiff of Southampton, that any waster, riever, draw-latch or murtherer came scathless away from me and my posse.
Mad with rage, I ran for a Jew, to whom I wanted to sell what remained of the furniture, but when I returned to my house I found a bailiff waiting at the door, and he handed me a summons.
The bailiff gave Grandier a statement of the conclusions at which he had arrived, and told him that the exorcisms had been performed that day by Barre, armed with the authority of the Bishop of Poitiers himself.
The bailiff, seeing that fresh plots against Grandier were being formed, sent for him and warned him that Barre had come over from Chinon the day before, and had resumed his exorcisms at the convent, adding that it was currently reported in the town that the mother superior and Sister Claire were again tormented by devils.
At the same time, knowing how impartial the bailiff was, he begged him to accompany the doctors and officials to the convent, and to be present at the exorcisms, and should any sign of real possession manifest itself, to sequester the afflicted nuns at once, and cause them to be examined by other persons than Mignon and Barre, whom he had such good cause to distrust.