资料来源 : pyDict

郡治安官,州长

资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Sheriff \Sher"iff\, n. [OE. shereve, AS. sc[=i]r-ger?fa; sc[=i]r
   a shire + ger?fa a reeve. See Shire, and {Reeve}, and cf.
   {Shrievalty}.]
   The chief officer of a shire or county, to whom is intrusted
   the execution of the laws, the serving of judicial writs and
   processes, and the preservation of the peace.

   Note: In England, sheriffs are appointed by the king. In the
         United States, sheriffs are elected by the legislature
         or by the citizens, or appointed and commissioned by
         the executive of the State. The office of sheriff in
         England is judicial and ministerial. In the United
         States, it is mainly ministerial. The sheriff, by
         himself or his deputies, executes civil and criminal
         process throughout the county, has charge of the jail
         and prisoners, attends courts, and keeps the peace. His
         judicial authority is generally confined to
         ascertaining damages on writs of inquiry and the like.
         Sheriff, in Scotland, called sheriff depute, is
         properly a judge, having also certain ministerial
         powers. Sheriff clerk is the clerk of the Sheriff's
         Court in Scotland. Sheriff's Court in London is a
         tribunal having cognizance of certain personal actions
         in that city. --Wharton, Tomlins. Erskine.

资料来源 : WordNet®

sheriff
     n : the principal law-enforcement officer in a county