A person employed to patrol a river or other body of water, in order to enforce by-laws relating to fishing, and especially to prevent poaching; = "water bailiff". Now rare (chiefly Scottish).
Origin
Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). From water + bailie.
Definition of water bailie in US English:
water bailie
nounˈwɔːtə ˌbeɪli
A person employed to patrol a river or other body of water, in order to enforce by-laws relating to fishing, and especially to prevent poaching; = "water bailiff". Now rare (chiefly Scottish).
Origin
Late Middle English (in an earlier sense). From water + bailie.