n.1 a sheriff's officer who executes writs and processes and carries out distraints and arrests.
2 Brit. the agent or steward of a landlord.
3 US an official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, etc.
4 Brit. (hist. except in formal titles) the sovereign's representative in a district, esp. the chief officer of a hundred.
5 the first civil officer in the Channel Islands.
Etymology: ME f. OF baillif ult. f. L bajulus carrier, manager