Meanings
plural sheriffwicks
- The area of jurisdiction of a sheriff.
Synonyms: sheriffdom, shirewick
- The position or office of a sheriff.
But the Sheriff is at much more charge, which is laid out, and is disburſed during his Sheriffwick, as experience will better inform him.
1668, Will[iam] Greenwood, Βουλευτηριον [Bouleutērion]. Or, A Practical Demonstration of County-Judicatures. Wherein Is Amply Explained the Judiciall and Ministeriall Authority of Sheriffs and Coroners. […], 3rd edition, London: […] John Place, […], and Will[iam] Place […], page 2232 more examples
Thirdly, by the Acceſsion of another office, as when a Iuſtice of Peace is choſen to be Sheriff of the ſame County, his authority of a Iuſtice of Peace there is ſuſpended during his Sheriffwick; […]
1643, Michael Dalton, The Country Justice, Containing the Practice of the Justices of the Peace out of Their Sessions: […], 6th edition, London: […] Richard Best, […], page 14And alſo all his and their goods and chattels, lands, tenements and hereditaments whatſoever, of and from all and all manner of execution or of executions of Priſoners whatſoever, which to the office of Sheriffwick ſhall appertain, Forfeitutes, Fines, amerciaments, impriſonments, paine, penalties, or impoſitions, whatſoever, to be charged, layed, or impoſed upon the ſaid County of S. his executors, adminiſtrators or aſſigns, his or their or either of their goods, or chattels, lands, tenements or hereditaments, […]
1655, Edward Henden, William Noy, Robert Mason, Henry Fleetwood, compilers, The Perfect Conveyancer: or, Severall Select & Choice Presidents Such as Have Not Formerly Been Printed. […], 2nd edition, London: […] F. L. for George Thompson, […], page 207Synonyms: sheriffalty, sheriffdom, sheriffhood, shrievalty
Synonyms & antonyms
nounThe area of jurisdiction of a sheriff.
nounThe position or office of a sheriff.
Origin
- Middle Englishshirevewyk
- Englishsheriffwick
From Middle English shirevewyk; equivalent to sheriff + wick.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
sheriffwick. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sheriffwick
“sheriffwick.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sheriffwick. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sheriffwick,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sheriffwick.
Source: sheriffwick on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.