a person who performs certain actions under legal authority, in particular 执达员,尤指 ■(chiefly Brit.)a sheriff's officer who executes writs and processes and carries out distraints and arrests (主 英)(负责执行令状传唤、扣押财产及逮捕)郡副司法长官 ■(Brit.)the agent or steward of a landlord (英)(地主的)管家 ■(N. Amer.)an official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, etc (北美)法警 ■(Brit. historical)the sovereign's representative in a district, especially the chief officer of a hundred (英, 史)(尤指百户邑地区的)君主代表 ■the first civil officer in the Channel Islands (英国海峡群岛的)首席文官
语源
Middle English : from Old French baillif, inflected form of bailli (see bailie), based on Latin bajulus 'carrier, manager'