bum-bailiff
noun historical, derogatory
A bailiff empowered to collect debts or arrest debtors for non-payment: a confounded pettifogging bum-bailiff...
- They are also often called bum-bailiffs or, shortly, ‘bums’.
- They will do what the law commands, but they will not volunteer to act as tip-staves of bum-bailiffs.
- Up to the time that a post office was established on January 1, 1806, it was known as Bumbridge because the bum-bailiff fell through the bridge while attempting to arrest a person.
Origin
Early 17th century: from bum2, so named because of the association of an approach from behind.