Meaning & use
undersheriff
Last updated
A deputy or assistant to a sheriff, historically serving as the sheriff's second-in-command in a county office.
See it in a sentence
The undersheriff took charge of the investigation while the sheriff was away.
In medieval England, the undersheriff handled much of the day-to-day administrative work of the shrievalty.
A note on using this word
The office dates back to medieval English law, where the undersheriff often did the practical work while the sheriff held the formal title.
Words with a similar meaning
deputy sheriff
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