bailiff

/ˈbeɪlɪf/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈbeɪlɪf/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbā-ləf/ (ame, mw)

bailiff — 名詞

  • bailiffsingular
  • bailiffsplural

1. a court official who enforces civil court orders — delivering legal papers, coll

1.名詞B2
釋義

法警；執達員

法院內送達文件、查封財產的官員

a court official who enforces civil court orders — delivering legal papers, collecting unpaid debts, and seizing property from people who fail to pay what they owe.

例句

Hassan opened the door to find a bailiff holding a court order for his unpaid rent.

Hassan 打開門，看到一名執達員拿著法院命令，要追討他未繳的房租。

bailiff holding a court order

A bailiff visited Vikram's shop to collect the money he owed in business rates.

一名執達員來到 Vikram 的店裡，收取他積欠的營業稅。

bailiff visited, collect the money

同義詞
  • enforcement agent

    the official legal term in England and Wales since 2014; used in formal and legal contexts

  • court officer

    a broader term for any official working in a court, not only those who handle debt collection

  • marshal

    used in US federal courts; marshals have wider powers including transporting prisoners across state lines

文法句型

bailiff + verb

bailiff + of + court

用法筆記

Used in both the UK and the US, but the exact duties differ. In the UK a bailiff mainly collects debts and seizes property; in the US a bailiff is more likely to work inside the courtroom keeping order and assisting the judge. Distinguish from sense 3: a sheriff's bailiff acts under a sheriff's authority, while this sense covers court-employed bailiffs.

常見錯誤

❌The bailiff sent me to prison for not paying.
✅The bailiff took my television because the court ordered me to pay what I owed.
💡A bailiff carries out court orders; only a judge can decide the punishment.
❌A police officer stood at the door and acted as the bailiff.
✅The court appointed a bailiff to keep order during the trial.
💡A police officer and a bailiff are different roles, even though both may wear a uniform in court.

2. someone hired to run a farm or a large country property for the person who owns

2.名詞C1
釋義

地產管事

受僱管理農場或莊園的人

someone hired to run a farm or a large country property for the person who owns it, taking care of the land, animals, workers, and accounts.

例句

Abigail's family hired a bailiff to manage their sheep farm while they lived in London.

Abigail 的家人僱了一名地產管事來管理他們的牧羊場，自己則住在倫敦。

bailiff to manage their sheep farm

The bailiff walked the estate every morning, checking the fences and the health of the cattle.

地產管事每天早晨巡視莊園，檢查圍籬和牛群的健康狀況。

bailiff walked the estate, checking the fences

同義詞
  • steward

    historically very close in meaning; a steward often managed a grand household as well as the surrounding land

  • farm manager

    the modern, everyday term for the same job

  • land agent

    similar but focuses more on rent collection and legal matters than on daily farm work

文法句型

bailiff + of + estate/farm

bailiff + manages/oversees + farm

用法筆記

This sense is now largely historical or literary. It appears mainly in novels, period dramas, and accounts of older British land-ownership. In modern English the role is called a 'farm manager' or 'estate manager'.

常見錯誤

❌The bailiff sold the wheat at the market every Saturday.
✅The bailiff arranged for workers to harvest the wheat, and the landowner sold it.
💡The bailiff manages the farm's operations; selling the produce is usually the owner's responsibility.

3. a deputy who works under a sheriff, carrying out court orders by serving writs,

3.名詞C1
釋義

警長副手

協助警長送達令狀、執行逮捕的人

a deputy who works under a sheriff, carrying out court orders by serving writs, delivering summonses, and arresting anyone who has defied a court order.

例句

The sheriff sent his bailiff to deliver a writ to a farmer who had ignored three court summonses.

警長派他的副手去向一名無視三次法院傳票的農夫送達令狀。

bailiff to deliver a writ

Valentina served as bailiff to the High Sheriff, arresting anyone who missed their court date.

Valentina 擔任郡督（High Sheriff）的副手，負責逮捕任何未出庭的人。

bailiff to the High Sheriff, arresting anyone

同義詞
  • deputy sheriff

    the standard US term for an officer who assists a sheriff

  • sheriff's officer

    a British term with the same meaning; used in Scotland and parts of England

文法句型

bailiff + of + sheriff

sheriff's + bailiff

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: a court bailiff (sense 1) works directly for a court and mainly handles debt and document matters, while a sheriff's bailiff (sense 3) works under a sheriff and focuses on executing warrants and making arrests. This sense is now largely historical in the UK; the role has been absorbed by civilian enforcement officers.

常見錯誤

❌The bailiff decided to arrest the man on his own authority.
✅The bailiff arrested the man after the sheriff issued a warrant.
💡A sheriff's bailiff acts on the sheriff's authority; they cannot arrest someone without a warrant from the sheriff or a court.