An English spelling question

[louis33705]

This is a question for our British friends and those more intelligent than me.

A word that has always baffled me and one which I have not been able to find an answer to is:

Sheriff

Why does it have two f's in it?

 

[Beth]

This is a question for our British friends and those more intelligent than me.

A word that has always baffled me and one which I have not been able to find an answer to is:

Sheriff

Why does it have two f's in it?

The word comes from Middle English, a combination of "sherf" and "reeve". The "v" became an "f" and so...sheriff.

 

[joninliverton]

I am not sure but if a word ends in a noun ends with a F, then it is a double FF. Beth's answer could relate to the Welsh language where there is no letter V, so a single F sounds like a V and a double FF sounds like an F.