bailiwick

  • 1bailiwick — 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

  • 2Bailiwick — 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

  • 3bailiwick — 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

  • 4bailiwick — province, domain, territory, *field, sphere …

    New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • 5bailiwick — ► NOUN Law ▪ the district or jurisdiction of a bailiff. ORIGIN from BAILIFF(Cf. ↑bailiff) + Old English wick «dwelling place» …

    English terms dictionary

  • 6bailiwick — [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

  • 7Bailiwick — A bailiwick is the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff. The term was also applied to a territory in which the sheriff s functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a Crown grant. The word is now more generally used in a… …

    Wikipedia

  • 8bailiwick — n. in one s own bailiwick * * * [ beɪlɪwɪk] in one s own bailiwick …

    Combinatory dictionary

  • 9bailiwick — /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

  • 10Bailiwick — The district within the jurisdiction of a *bailiff. [< bailiff + OldEngl. wic = office, function] Cf. Bailiwick; wick …

    Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases