Sheriff Comes From Shire Reeve
A sheriff is a law officer. The word is a worn-down compound: the reeve, or official, of a shire.
A sheriff is a legal officer, though the job differs by country. The name is Old English: *scir gerefa*, the reeve of a shire — the king's representative in a county. England kept the title as a largely ceremonial one, Scotland made sheriffs judges, and America made them elected county law officers with real power.
- An elected county law officer (American). *The county sheriff.*
- A judge (Scotland). *The sheriff court.*
- A ceremonial county officer (England and Wales). *The High Sheriff.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | sheriff | The local sheriff. |
| Plural | sheriffs | County sheriffs. |
| Adjective | sheriff's | A sheriff's deputy. |
| Related | reeve | The manor reeve. |
| Related | shire | The shire counties. |
How it is used in a sentence
- The sheriff's office handles the county jail.American.
- The case was heard in the sheriff court.Scottish, a level of court.
- The High Sheriff attended in ceremonial dress.English, an honorary role.
Old English officials
- Reeve — an official or steward
- Shire — the administrative county
- Ealdorman — a senior noble, later earl
- Bailiff — an officer enforcing court orders
- Constable — originally a household officer, now a police rank
From Old English *scirgerefa*, from *scir*, shire, and *gerefa*, reeve or officer. The compound wore down through *shirreve* to *sheriff*.
Is an English sheriff a police officer?
No. In England and Wales the High Sheriff is a ceremonial appointment. Policing is done by constabularies.
What does a Scottish sheriff do?
Sits as a judge in the sheriff court, which handles most civil and criminal business below the highest courts.