bai;liff pronunciation: function: noun 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 — more at baildate: 14th century 1 a : an official employed by a british sheriff to serve writs and make arrests and executions b : a minor officer of some united states courts usually serving as a messenger or usher2 chiefly british : one who manages an estate or farm— bai;liff;ship noun