sheriff

noun

1. the law-enforcement officer of a county or other civil subdivision of a state.
2. (formerly) an important civil officer in an English shire.

noun

1. (in the US) the chief law-enforcement officer in a county: popularly elected, except in Rhode Island
2. (in England and Wales) the chief executive officer of the Crown in a county, having chiefly ceremonial dutiesRelated adjective: shrieval
3. (in Scotland) a judge in any of the sheriff courts
4. (in Australia) an administrative officer of the Supreme Court, who enforces judgments and the execution of writs, empanels juries, etc
5. (in New Zealand) an officer of the High Court

n.late Old English scirgerefa “representative of royal authority in a shire,” from scir (see shire) + gerefa “chief, official, reeve” (see reeve). As an American county official, attested from 1660s; sheriff’s sale first recorded 1798. Sheriff’s tooth (late 14c.) was a common name for the annual tax levied to pay for the sheriff’s victuals during court sessions.