Bailiwick

/ˈbeɪlɪwɪk/ noun

Definition

A person's area of activity, responsibility, interest, or expertise; originally, the district administered by a bailiff.

Etymology

From 'bailli' (bailiff) and Old English 'wic' (settlement or dwelling place). The word evolved from a literal geographic jurisdiction to a modern metaphorical one for any sphere of authority.

Kelly Says

Bailiwick is one of the most successful medieval terms to survive into modern English—'that's not my bailiwick' is still commonly said today, showing how feudal concepts embedded themselves in everyday speech.

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