Medieval History Term of the Week: Bailiff
Bailiff
[bey-lif]
Etymology: Middle English baillif, bailie, from Anglo-French baillif, from bail power, authority, office, from baillier to govern, administer, from Medieval Latin bajulare to care for, support, from Latin, to carry a burden
1) Manorial official, overseer of the manor, chosen by the lord. (Gies, Joseph and Francis. Life in a Medieval Castle, 229)
2) Chief representative of a lord on a manor (usually an outsider appointed by the lord). (Bennett, Judith M. Women in the Medieval English Countryside, 234)
*term definitions retrieved from Netserf’s Medieval Glossary (http://www.netserf.org/Glossary)
Filed under: Middle Ages History, Medieval Glossary, Medieval History on October 31st, 2008
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