bailiwick

bailiwick
bailiwick "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. 2014.

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  • bailiwick — 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

  • Bailiwick — 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

  • bailiwick — province, domain, territory, *field, sphere …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

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

  • bailiwick — [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

  • Bailiwick — 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

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

  • bailiwick — /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

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

  • bailiwick — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. district, region; area of concern, business. II (Roget s 3 Superthesaurus) (VOCABULARY WORD) n. [BAL i wik] one s area of special interest or expertise. My personal bailiwick is paleontology. SYN.:… …   English dictionary for students

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