sheriff

noun sheh-REEF Rare

Origin: From English sheriff, ultimately from Old English scīrgerēfa (shire reeve).

Usage Note

Sheriff is a loanword from English used in Spanish to refer to the American or historical Western lawman — it is not a native Spanish law-enforcement title. Its gender is masculine, and the plural is sheriffs. In Spain and Latin America the equivalent official would be a jefe de policía or alguacil (in historical contexts); sheriff is confined mainly to Western films and US political contexts.

Examples

"El sheriff llegó al pueblo para detener al bandido."

Natural Translation

The sheriff arrived in town to arrest the bandit.

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