Tipstaff in United Kingdom

Concept of Tipstaff

The following is an old definition of Tipstaff [1], a term which has several meanings:(Plural, tipstaves.) 1. An oificer appointed to attend upon the judges of the king’s courts with a staff or rod tipped with silver as a sign of authority, and to take into charge persons committed by the court. 2. An ofEcer who waits upon a court in session, preserving order, caring for jurors and juries, serving processes, etc. Compare Bailiff; Crier.

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Notes and References

1. Meaning of Tipstaff provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)