Etymology: Middle English
1.
a. : a tenant holding a sergeanty of service as an armed personal attendant for protection of a feudal lord and enforcement of his commands ; especially : such an attendant upon the king or on the king's lord high steward in court to arrest traitors and other offenders
b. : one of two officer who nominally by allowance of the sovereign attend on the houses of Parliament to execute their commands ; also : an officer similarly attending on the Court of Chancery
2. : an officer of a legislative body, a deliberative or judicial assembly, or other organization (as a fraternal lodge) who attends upon it to execute commands or orders (as in preserving order or arresting offenders)