bum-bailiff
noun historical, derogatory
A bailiff empowered to collect debts or arrest debtors for non-payment: a confounded pettifogging bum-bailiff...
- They are also often called bum-bailiffs or, shortly, ‘bums’.
- They will do what the law commands, but they will not volunteer to act as tip-staves of bum-bailiffs.
- Up to the time that a post office was established on January 1, 1806, it was known as Bumbridge because the bum-bailiff fell through the bridge while attempting to arrest a person.
Origin
Early 17th century: from bum2, so named because of the association of an approach from behind.
- ontal
- on tap
- on target
- on-target earnings
- Ontarian
- Ontario
- Ontario, Lake
- on tenterhooks
- on terms
- on that (or this) score
- on the agenda
- on the (auction) block
- on the back burner
- on the back foot
- on the ball
- on the barrelhead
- on the beam
- on the bench
- on the bit (or bridle)
- on the blink
- on the bludge
- on the bones of one's arse
- on the books
- on the bounce
- on the bow