shrievalty

[ shree-vuhl-tee ]

noun

, plural shriev·al·ties.

1. the office, term, or jurisdiction of a sheriff.

shrievalty

/ ˈʃriːvəltɪ /

noun

1. the office or term of office of a sheriff
2. the jurisdiction of a sheriff

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrievalty¹

1495–1505; shrieve ¹ + -alty, as in mayoralty

Word History and Origins

Origin of shrievalty¹

C16: from shrieve , on the model of mayoralty

Example Sentences

For this, City's Cash spent £4.66m in 2007 on "ceremony", according to the accounts, and another £7.16m servicing the lord mayor's banqueting and "shrievalty" duties.

From The Guardian

But the prospect of the shrievalty demanded something more; and latterly Mr. Dundyke had taken a handsome villa at Brixton, had furnished it well, and set himself up there with two maid servants and a footman.

From Project Gutenberg

Her husband would require them during his shrievalty.

From Project Gutenberg

At the time of the Domesday Survey Huntingdonshire had an independent shrievalty, but from 1154 it was united with Cambridgeshire under one sheriff, until in 1637 the two counties were separated for six years, after which they were reunited and have remained so to the present day.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of the shrievalty this list of sentences is sent to the Court of Exchequer, as forming part of what is called the Bill of Cravings, and in which the sheriff is allowed a certain sum towards the expenses of the execution.

From Project Gutenberg