bailiff
    n 1: an officer of the court who is employed to execute writs
         and processes and make arrests etc.

Bailiff \Bail"iff\ (b[=a]l"[i^]f), n. [OF. baillif, F. bailli,
   custodian, magistrate, fr. L. bajulus porter. See Bail to
   deliver.]
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   1. Originally, a person put in charge of something;
      especially, a chief officer, magistrate, or keeper, as of
      a county, town, hundred, or castle; one to whom powers of
      custody or care are intrusted. --Abbott.
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            Lausanne is under the canton of Berne, governed by a
            bailiff sent every three years from the senate.
                                                  --Addison.
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   2. (Eng. Law) A sheriff's deputy, appointed to make arrests,
      collect fines, summon juries, etc.
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   Note: In American law the term bailiff is seldom used except
         sometimes to signify a sheriff's officer or constable,
         or a party liable to account to another for the rent
         and profits of real estate. --Burrill.
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   3. An overseer or under steward of an estate, who directs
      husbandry operations, collects rents, etc. [Eng.]
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Burghmaster \Burgh"mas`ter\, n.
   1. A burgomaster.
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   2. (Mining) An officer who directs and lays out the meres or
      boundaries for the workmen; -- called also bailiff, and
      barmaster. [Eng.]
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BAILIFF, account render. A bailiff is a person who has, by delivery, the 
custody and administration of lands or goods for the benefit of the owner or 
bailor, and is liable to render an account thereof. Co. Lit. 271; 2 Leon. 
245; 1 Mall . Ent. 65. The word is derived from the old French word bailler, 
to bail, that is, to deliver. Originally, the word implied the delivery of 
real estate, as of land, woods, a house, a part of the fish in a pond; Owen, 
20; 2 Leon. 194; Keilw. 114 a, b; 37 Ed. III. 7; 10 H. VII. 7, 30; but was 
afterwards extended to goods and chattels. Every bailiff is a ,receiver, but 
every receiver is not a bailiff. Hence it is a good plea that the defendant 
never was receiver, but as bailiff. 18 Ed. III. 16. See Cro. Eliz. 82-3; 2 
Anders. 62-3, 96-7 F. N. B. 134 F; 8 Co. 48 a, b. 
     2. From a bailiff is required administration, care, management, skill. 
He is, therefore, entitled to allowance for the expense of administration, 
and for all things done in his office, according to his own judgment, 
without the special direction of his principal, and also for casual things 
done in the common course of business: 1 Mall. Ent. 65, (4) 11; 1 Rolle, Ab. 
125, 1, 7; Co. Lit. 89 a; Com. Dig. E 12 Bro. Ab. Acc. 18 Lucas, Rep. 23 but 
not for things foreign to his office. Bro. Ab. Acc .26, 88; Plowd. 282b, 14; 
Com. Dig. Acc. E13; Co. Lit. 172; 1 Mall. Ent. 65, (4) 4. Whereas, a mere 
receiver, or a receiver who is not also a bailiff, is not entitled to 
allowance for any expenses. Bro. Ab. Acc. 18; 1 Mall. Ent. 66, (4) 10; 1 
Roll. Ab. 118; Com. Dig. E 13; 1 Dall. 340. 
     3. A bailiff may appear and plead for his principal in an assize; " and 
his plea com- @mences " thus, " J. S., bailiff of T. N., comes " &c., not " 
T. N., by his bailiff, J. S., comes," &c. 2 Inst. 415; Keilw. 117 b. As to 
what matters he may plead, see 2 Inst. 414. 

BAILIFF, office. Magistrates who for @merly administered justice in the 
parliaments or courts of France, answering to the English sheriffs as 
mentioned by Bracton. There are still bailiffs of particular towns in 
England as the bailiff of Dover Castle, &c., otherwise bailiffs are now only 
officers or stewards, &c. as Bailiffs of liberties, appointed by every lord 
within his liberty, to serve writs, &c. Bailiff errent or itinerant, 
appointed to go about the country for the same purpose. Sheriff 's bailies, 
sheriff's officers to execute writs; these are also called bound bailiffs 
because they are usually bound in a bond to the sheriff for the due 
execution of their office. Bailiffs of court baron, to summon the court, 
&c. Bailiffs of husbandry, appointed by private persons to collect their 
rents and manage their estates. Water bailiffs, officers in port towns for 
searching ships, gathering tolls, &c. Bac. Ab. h. t.