water bailiff

noun

Definition of water bailiff

1 obsolete : an English customs officer required to search ships

2 : any of various former British officials having specified jurisdiction over the water: such as

a : an official superseded in 1771 having jurisdiction over fishing on the Thames

b : an official in the Isle of Man having jurisdiction over fishery and some maritime jurisdiction prior to 1885

c : a police officer on a river employed especially for the prevention of poaching

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