Forms: (see SHERIFF). [UNDER-1 6 a: cf. SHERIFF 2.] A deputy sheriff.
α. 1431. in Raine, Scriptores tres (Surtees), App. p. ccxxi. Ye shall noon hafe to be your undershireve or clerk that was undershyreve or any of the Shyreves clerkes the last yere passed.
1452–3. Paston Lett., Suppl. (1901), 48. He schall non undirshireve, ne non othir officer make.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Esdras vi. 7. The vnder shreue in Syria and Phenices.
1558. in Strype, Eccl. Mem. (1721), III. lxii. 457. The officers of this town … and the undershereve.
1631. Lenton, Charact., G 3 b. An Vndershriefe … is the feare and terror of all debtors.
a. 1658. Cleveland, Poems, Young Man to Old Wom., 35. Like Aldermen, or Under-shrieves With Canvas Backs, and Velvet-Sleeves.
β. 1444. Rolls of Parlt., V. 108/1. No Sherryff, ne Under Shereff, ne Clerk of the Sherryff.
1501. Plumpton Corr. (Camden), 159. Which Inpanell the sayd William Rossell had of the underschereffe of Nottingham.
1589. R. Payne, Brief Descr. Ireland, 5. There is a sheriffe of euerie countie, with vndersheriffes.
1632. Massinger, City Madam, V. ii. An Under-sheriffe,… being well paid, will serve An extent on Lords or Lowns land.
1665. Extr. St. Papers Friends, Ser. III. (1912), 240. The Bishop of Durham … nominates both high sheriffs and under sheriffs.
1723. in Harris, Life Ld. Hardwicke (1847), I. 130. He made a speech at the gallows, and delivered a paper to the undersheriff.
1769. Wesley, Jrnl., 13 July. The Under-Sheriff had promised the use of the Town-hall.
1835. App. Munic. Corpor. Rep., III. 1991 (Nottingham). Officers of the corporation … [include] Two Sheriffs. An Under-Sheriff, who is also Steward.
1877. Burroughs, Taxation, 327. The under-sheriff cannot perform the duties of collector.
Hence Undersheriffry, Undersheriffship, Undersheriffwick, the office of an undersheriff.
a. 1613. Overbury, A Wife, etc. (1638), M 7 b. His honesty and learning bring him to Under-Shriveship.
1620. J. Wilkinson, Coroners & Sherifes, 50. All emoluments … to the office of sherifwicke or undersherifwicke belonging.
1625. Bacon, Ess., Praise (Arb.), 357. The Cardinals of Rome … call all Temporall … Emploiments, Shirrerie; which is, Vnder Sheriffries;… Though many times, those Vndersherifferies doe more good, then their High Speculations.
[1666. Bp. Parker, Platonic Philos., 17. Being raised above the little concernments and under-Shreiveries of this life (as the Cardinals of Rome are pleased to stile all secular employments).]
1782. Burke, Let. Penal Laws Rom. Cath., Wks. 1792, III. 527. The exclusion from the law,… fron sheriff-ships, and under-sheriff-ships.
1845. Ld. Campbell, Chancellors, I. 512. He declined a handsome pension…, which he could not hold without resigning his under-sheriffship.
