bailiff

Everyday

1. (law, UK) An official who has the legal power to take goods from someone's home, or make them leave it, when they have not paid money they owe. tree →
2. (law, US) An officer who keeps order in a courtroom. tree →
3. (history) In old times, a man who managed a lord's land and farm workers. tree →

In the lessons

In adult-life lessons bailiffs appear when a family is in debt; they may come to take things to pay what is owed, which can be very worrying. In US court scenes on TV the bailiff says «All rise». In history lessons the medieval bailiff ran the manor. Phrases: «send in the bailiffs», «the bailiffs came», «court bailiff».

Examples

• The bailiffs came to take the car because the bills were not paid. tree →
• The bailiff in the courtroom asked everyone to stand. tree →
• In the castle, the bailiff checked that the peasants worked. tree →
• Families in debt can get advice so the bailiffs don't come. tree →
• The bailiff knocked on the door with a letter from the court. tree →
• In the story, the cruel bailiff took the farmer's cow. tree →
• “I have hold of it now,” cried the bailiff. tree →

Note

Countable. Spelled with double f at the end. In Scotland the similar officer is a sheriff officer. Sensitive word in talk about money troubles.