bailiff

noun bai·liff \ ˈbā-ləf \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Definition of bailiff

1 a : an official employed by a British sheriff to serve writs and make arrests and executions

b : a minor officer of some U.S. courts usually serving as a messenger or usher

2 chiefly British : one who manages an estate or farm

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bailiffship

play \-ˌship\ noun

See bailiff defined for English-language learners

See bailiff defined for kids

Recent Examples of bailiff from the Web

As the seven women and five men prepared to hand the verdict to the bailiff, Anthony, then 25, was breathing heavily and blinking back tears.

— steve helling, PEOPLE.com, "How Casey Anthony Was Acquitted: The Jurors Explain Their Controversial Verdict," 5 July 2018
At the end of the day, bailiffs handcuffed him and took him back to jail.

— bruce selcraig, San Antonio Express-News, "Witness recounts stabbing death at S.A. murder trial," 11 July 2018
Sitting in the wrong position could earn a stern word from a bailiff.

— drew fitzgerald, WSJ, "No Phones, No Exits: The AT&T Judge Wanted Folks to Hear His Verdict," 12 June 2018
In a video surveillance released Thursday, Rudd is seen calmly walking out of the courtroom as bailiffs run after him.

— Fox News, "Handcuffed suspect runs out of courtroom, nose dives off 2nd-floor railing in stunning video," 4 May 2018
Arceo said while bailiffs ejected him from the courtroom, KSL reports.

— christine pelisek, PEOPLE.com, "Grieving Husband of Slain Utah Woman Confront's Killer at Sentencing: 'Were You Sorry When You Beat Her?'," 13 Apr. 2018
But the commission said judicial rules required Novak to disclose the conversation with the bailiff to the opposing parties.

— bob egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, "San Mateo County judge reprimanded," 30 May 2018
After the bailiff removed their handcuffs, Kirby told the two 17-year-olds and their parents that regardless of the teens' motive or their intentions, Warren County takes every threat seriously.

— mike schell, Cincinnati.com, "Judge turns to polygraph testing for students accused of school threats," 7 Mar. 2018
After the hearing, the same bailiff, shook his hand and said good luck.

— cary spivak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Fox Point lawyer who stole from estate avoids jail, keeps law license," 24 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bailiff.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of bailiff

Middle English baillif, bailie, from Anglo-French baillif, from bail power, authority, office, from baillier to govern, administer, from Medieval Latin bajulare to care for, support, from Latin, to carry a burden — more at ³bail

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

BAILIFF Defined for English Language Learners

bailiff

noun

Definition of bailiff for English Language Learners

: an officer in a court of law who helps the judge control the people in the courtroom
: someone hired by a sheriff to bring legal documents to people and to take away possessions when people cannot pay for them
: someone who manages the land and property of another person