noun
bailiff
BAY-lihf
noun
1
A court officer responsible for keeping order in the courtroom and enforcing the judge's orders.
"The bailiff escorted the jury out of the room."
2
An officer who enforces court orders such as evictions or seizure of property to repay a debt.
"Bailiffs arrived to repossess the furniture after the debt went unpaid."
How to Use Bailiff
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA law-enforcement officer who keeps order in court or carries out court orders like debt collection and evictions.
UK vs US
In the UK, a bailiff typically enforces debts and evictions; in the US, a bailiff usually just keeps order in the courtroom, while debt enforcement falls to other officials.
Word Forms
bailiffs plural, Bailiffs plural
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Etymology
From Middle English baillif, via Anglo-Norman and Old French, ultimately from Latin baiulus ("porter, steward") — the same root as bail.