water bailiff

noun

1

obsolete : an English customs officer required to search ships

2

: any of various former British officials having specified jurisdiction over the water: such as

a

: an official superseded in 1771 having jurisdiction over fishing on the Thames

b

: an official in the Isle of Man having jurisdiction over fishery and some maritime jurisdiction prior to 1885

c

: a police officer on a river employed especially for the prevention of poaching

Word History

Etymology

Middle English

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