- Bailiwick
A bailiwick is the area of jurisdiction of a
bailiff . The term was also applied to a territory in which thesheriff 's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a Crown grant. The word is now more generally used in ametaphor ical sense, to indicate a sphere of authority, experience, activity, study, or interest.The term originated in
France ("bailie " being theOld French term for a bailiff). Under theancien régime in France, the bailli was the king's representative in a bailliage, charged with the application of justice and control of the administration. In southern France, the term generally used was sénéchal (cfseneschal ) who held office in the sénéchaussée. The administrative network of "baillages" was established in the 13th century, based on the earlier medieval fiscal and tax divisions (the 'baillie') which had been used by earlier sovereign princes (such as the Duke of Normandy). (For more on this French judicial system, seebailli ,prévôt andEarly Modern France .)A bailiwick ( _de. ballei) was also the territorial division of the
Teutonic Order .In English, the original French "bailie" was combined with '-wic', the Anglo-Saxon suffix meaning a village, to produce a term meaning literally 'bailiff's village' - the original geographic scope of a bailiwick. In the 19th century, it was absorbed into
American English as a metaphor for one's sphere of knowledge or activity.The term survives in administrative usage in the
Channel Islands , which for administrative purposes are grouped into the two bailiwicks of Jersey (comprising the island ofJersey and uninhabited islets such as theMinquiers andÉcréhous ) and Guernsey (comprising the islands ofGuernsey ,Sark ,Alderney ,Brecqhou ,Herm ,Jethou andLihou ). Each Channel Island bailiwick is headed by a Bailiff.
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bailiwick — I noun area, arena, authority, circle, department, district, domain, dominion, enclave, field, haunt, jurisdiction, orbit, precinct, province, purlieu, realm, region, specialty, sphere, sway, territory, ward II index domain (sphere of influence) … Law dictionary
Bailiwick — Bail i*wick, n. [Bailie, bailiff + wick a village.] (Law) The precincts within which a bailiff has jurisdiction; the limits of a bailiff s authority. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
bailiwick — district of a bailiff, early 15c., baillifwik, from BAILIFF (Cf. bailiff) (q.v.) + O.E. wic village (see WICK (Cf. wick) (2)). Figurative sense of one s natural or proper sphere is first recorded 1843 … Etymology dictionary
bailiwick — province, domain, territory, *field, sphere … New Dictionary of Synonyms
bailiwick — ► NOUN Law ▪ the district or jurisdiction of a bailiff. ORIGIN from BAILIFF(Cf. ↑bailiff) + Old English wick «dwelling place» … English terms dictionary
bailiwick — [bā′lə wik] n. [ME < baili,BAILIE + wik < OE wic, village: see ECONOMY] 1. the district of a bailiff 2. one s particular area of activity, authority, interest, etc … English World dictionary
bailiwick — n. in one s own bailiwick * * * [ beɪlɪwɪk] in one s own bailiwick … Combinatory dictionary
bailiwick — /bay leuh wik /, n. 1. the district within which a bailie or bailiff has jurisdiction. 2. a person s area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work: to confine suggestions to one s own bailiwick. [1425 75; late ME, equiv. to baili BAILIE + wick… … Universalium
Bailiwick — The district within the jurisdiction of a *bailiff. [< bailiff + OldEngl. wic = office, function] Cf. Bailiwick; wick … Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases
bailiwick — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. district, region; area of concern, business. II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) n. [BAL i wik] one s area of special interest or expertise. My personal bailiwick is paleontology. SYN.:… … English dictionary for students