Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “bailiff” come from?

Bailiff comes from Old French bailif, derived from Old French baillier meaning to carry or manage, from Latin baiulus meaning porter or carrier, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European roots relating to strength and enclosure.

bailiff (English): An officer of the court, "particularly"; A public...

Definitions

  1. An officer of the court, "particularly"; A public...

Ancestry of “bailiff”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Frenchbaillif—
2Old Frenchbailifbailiff
3Vulgar Latinbaiulivuscastellan
4Latinbāiulus—
5Proto-Germanicpakkôbundle; pack; package

Words derived from “bailiff”

  • bailiffship
Every word from Proto-Germanic pakkô →