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Dates
Established at some point after the foundation of the Shire in III 1601; survived into the Fourth Age
Race
Hobbits
Culture
Shire-hobbits
Settlements
During the War of the Ring, Shirriff-houses were established across the Shire, including one at Frogmorton in the Eastfarthing; these were later demolished
Pronunciation
shi'rriffs
Meaning
From Old English scirgerefa ('Shire-reeve' or 'Shire-steward')1

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 22 November 2015
  • Updates planned: 1

Shirriffs

The Shire's 'police'

The title given to those who kept order in the Shire, somewhat akin to a 'police force'. Normally few in number, the Shirriffs were greatly increased during the time of the War of the Ring.


Notes

1

In Anglo-Saxon England, a gerefa was a royal representative or official, and so a scirgerefa was the representative of the King within a shire. This word survives into modern English, though more usually spelt 'sheriff', and with a considerably modified meaning. Perhaps the best known historical example is the Sheriff of Nottingham in the stories of Robin Hood: his title made him the administrator of the shire of Nottingham under the King of England.

See also...

Bounders, Chief Shirriff, Cock-robin, Deputy Mayor, First Eastfarthing Troop, First Shirriff, Frogmorton, Hob Hayward, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, Messenger Service, Robin ‘Cock-robin’ Smallburrow, Shire-moot, Shirriff-houses, The Rules, The Watch, [See the full list...]

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 22 November 2015
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1999, 2000, 2015. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

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Shirriffs

The Shire's 'police'

Dates
Established at some point after the foundation of the Shire in III 1601; survived into the Fourth Age
Race
Hobbits
Culture
Shire-hobbits
Settlements
During the War of the Ring, Shirriff-houses were established across the Shire, including one at Frogmorton in the Eastfarthing; these were later demolished
Pronunciation
shi'rriffs
Meaning
From Old English scirgerefa ('Shire-reeve' or 'Shire-steward')1

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 22 November 2015
  • Updates planned: 1

Shirriffs

The Shire's 'police'

The title given to those who kept order in the Shire, somewhat akin to a 'police force'. Normally few in number, the Shirriffs were greatly increased during the time of the War of the Ring.


Notes

1

In Anglo-Saxon England, a gerefa was a royal representative or official, and so a scirgerefa was the representative of the King within a shire. This word survives into modern English, though more usually spelt 'sheriff', and with a considerably modified meaning. Perhaps the best known historical example is the Sheriff of Nottingham in the stories of Robin Hood: his title made him the administrator of the shire of Nottingham under the King of England.

See also...

Bounders, Chief Shirriff, Cock-robin, Deputy Mayor, First Eastfarthing Troop, First Shirriff, Frogmorton, Hob Hayward, Lotho Sackville-Baggins, Messenger Service, Robin ‘Cock-robin’ Smallburrow, Shire-moot, Shirriff-houses, The Rules, The Watch, [See the full list...]

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 22 November 2015
  • Updates planned: 1

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1999, 2000, 2015. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by myDISCprofile, the free online personality test.
Take the FREE myDISCprofile personality test to discover your core personality and your ideal job.