† south-bailien.

Etymology: Apparently an alteration of sub-bailiff n. after Anglo-Norman suthbaillif (early 14th cent.; also sutbalif ), variant of subbailif sub-bailiff n.; perhaps reinforced in English by folk-etymological association with south adj. Compare Anglo-Norman suth , south , southe , variants of suz , souz under (see sub- prefix), and compare similarly southdeacon n., south-bois n., and Anglo-Norman suthvicar (c1400), variant of subvicar (compare sub-vicar n. at sub- prefix 2b(a)), and also (without attested parallels in Anglo-Norman) southdean n., southcellarer n., and soulace n., and compare also forms of this type at suburb n. The paucity of the English words in this group which do not have parallels in Anglo-Norman makes it unlikely that south- became a productive element in Middle English; instead, southdean n. and southcellarer n. seem likely to show analogous alterations of existing words, probably reinforced by folk-etymological association with south adj.; soulace n. probably reflects an unattested Anglo-Norman word.The following example, with the meaning ‘district under the control of a sub-bailiff’, may show either the Anglo-Norman or the Middle English word:1403 Inquisition Misc. (P.R.O.: C 145/281/26) m. 1 Seisitus..de..viginti acris terre in Berford..vna cum balliua forestarie in foresta de Grouele vocat. Southbaillyf... Concessimus..custodiam manerii..cum officio balliue de Groueligh vocat. Souȝbaillif.