Tipstaff
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence · Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
An officer appointed by the marshal of the king's bench to attend upon the judges with a kind of rod or stafE tipped with silver, who take into their custody all prisoners, either committed or turned over by the judges at their chambers, &c. Jacob. Tipstaves were formerly appointed by the marshal of the king's bench prison, or by the warden of the fleet prison, but now, under queen's prison discontinuance act, 1862 (Stat. 25 & 26 Vict. ch. 104), are appointed by the respective chiefs of the chancery, queen's bench, common pleas, tipped with silver, and take into their charge all prisoners committed by the court.
Brmvn.