Portuguese

edit

Etymology 1

edit

Borrowed from Arabic شَرِيف (šarīf, noble).

Noun

edit

xerife m (plural xerifes)

  1. sheriff (title used by Moorish princes who claimed to be descendants of Muhammad)
  2. sheriff (title used by Muslims who visited Muhammad's temple three times)

Etymology 2

edit

Borrowed from English sheriff.

Pronunciation

edit
 

  • Rhymes: -ifi, -ifɨ
  • Hyphenation: xe‧ri‧fe

Noun

edit

xerife m (plural xerifes)

  1. sheriff (magistrate in some counties in England and in certain towns in Western American countries)
  2. sheriff (official vested with police power in rural counties in the United States)