3. A preparation of bicarbonate of soda, tartaric acid, sugar, etc.,
variously flavored, for making an effervescing drink; -- called also
sherbet powder.
Sherd (?), n. A fragment; -- now used only in composition, as in
potsherd. See Shard.
The thigh . . . which all in sherds it drove.
Chapman.
{ ||Sher"eef (?), ||Sher"if (?), } n. [Ar. sherf noble, holy, n., a
prince.] A member of an Arab princely family descended from Mohammed
through his son-in-law Ali and daughter Fatima. The Grand Shereef is
the governor of Mecca.
||Sher"i*at (?), n. [Turk. sher 'at] The sacred law of the Turkish
||empire.
Sher"iff, n. [OE. shereve, AS. scr-ger&?;fa; scr a shire + ger&?;fa a
reeve. See Shire, and Reeve, and cf. Shrievalty.] The chief officer of
a shire or county, to whom is intrusted the execution of the laws, the
serving of judicial writs and processes, and the preservation of the
peace.
In England, sheriffs are appointed by the king. In the United States,
sheriffs are elected by the legislature or by the citizens, or
appointed and commissioned by the executive of the State. The office of
sheriff in England is judicial and ministerial. In the United States,
it is mainly ministerial. The sheriff, by himself or his deputies,
executes civil and criminal process throughout the county, has charge
of the jail and prisoners, attends courts, and keeps the peace. His
judicial authority is generally confined to ascertaining damages on
writs of inquiry and the like. Sheriff, in Scotland, called sheriff
depute, is properly a judge, having also certain ministerial powers.
Sheriff clerk is the clerk of the Sheriff's Court in Scotland.
Sheriff's Court in London is a tribunal having cognizance of certain
personal actions in that city. Wharton, Tomlins. Erskine.
{ Sher"iff*al*ty (?), Sher"iff*dom (?), Sher"iff*ry (?), Sher"iff*ship
(?), Sher"iff*wick (?), n. } The office or jurisdiction of sheriff. See
Shrievalty.