bailiff
noun
bai·liff ˈbā-ləf 
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
bailiffship
ˈbā-ləf-ˌship
noun 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Additionally, an open case alleging Benton bit a bailiff before his June trial was dismissed. 
Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 Jurors are allowed to pass notes with questions to a bailiff for the attorneys and the judge to decide whether to ask them in court and submit them as evidence. Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 17 Aug. 2022 Benton is also facing another felony charge for battery by a prisoner, accused of biting a bailiff before his June trial. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 28 July 2022 Defendants, prosecutors, legal counsel, bailiff, and other court staff are not visible but their voices can be heard in the background. Nikki Mccann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2022 The Ohio Attorney General’s Office will act as the special prosecutor overseeing the case of a Cleveland Housing Court deputy bailiff who fatally shot a man during an eviction. cleveland, 9 Feb. 2022 Early on Tuesday, Vasquez had a bailiff show jurors a knife that Heard had given Depp as a present early in their relationship. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 May 2022 The court’s bailiff then transferred the money out of the account, leaving Google with no funds to make payroll and other expenses, the people said, declining to say how much was seized. Sam Schechner And Mauro Orro, WSJ, 18 May 2022 Benton continued to kick and strike the bailiff's left leg after they were separated, the complaint said. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 16 June 2022 See More
Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2022 Jurors are allowed to pass notes with questions to a bailiff for the attorneys and the judge to decide whether to ask them in court and submit them as evidence. Stephanie Pagones, Fox News, 17 Aug. 2022 Benton is also facing another felony charge for battery by a prisoner, accused of biting a bailiff before his June trial. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 28 July 2022 Defendants, prosecutors, legal counsel, bailiff, and other court staff are not visible but their voices can be heard in the background. Nikki Mccann Ramirez, Rolling Stone, 8 July 2022 The Ohio Attorney General’s Office will act as the special prosecutor overseeing the case of a Cleveland Housing Court deputy bailiff who fatally shot a man during an eviction. cleveland, 9 Feb. 2022 Early on Tuesday, Vasquez had a bailiff show jurors a knife that Heard had given Depp as a present early in their relationship. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 May 2022 The court’s bailiff then transferred the money out of the account, leaving Google with no funds to make payroll and other expenses, the people said, declining to say how much was seized. Sam Schechner And Mauro Orro, WSJ, 18 May 2022 Benton continued to kick and strike the bailiff's left leg after they were separated, the complaint said. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 16 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
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 bail entry 3
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Legal Definition
bailiff
noun
bai·liff ˈbā-ləf
: an officer of some courts in the U.S. whose duties usually include keeping order in the courtroom and guarding prisoners or jurors in deliberation