Dictionary

constabulary en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /kənˈstæbjʊləɹi/

Etymology

From mediaeval Latin conestabularia, a noun use of the feminine version of conestabularius, from Latin constabulus, from comes stabuli, literally ‘master of the stables’.

Meanings

1. (not-comparable) Of or relating to constables.
2. (not-comparable) Characteristic of police; police-like, rather than military.
   • Constabulary missions are different from fighting wars.

Synonyms

constabular

constabulary en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /kənˈstæbjʊləɹi/

Etymology

From mediaeval Latin conestabularia, a noun use of the feminine version of conestabularius, from Latin constabulus, from comes stabuli, literally ‘master of the stables’.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A police force.
2. (countable, uncountable) The police in a particular district or area.
   • As Hiro is entering their neighborhood, he sees men running down the undulating pontoon bridge that serves as the main street, carrying guns and knives. The local constabulary. 1992, Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash, page 385:
   • […] the wretched creature went to the police for help; she was versed in the law, and perhaps had spared no pains to keep on good terms with the local constabulary. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XLIV, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC, page 361:

Forms

Translations (9)

ru полицейские силы (police force) · es policía (police force) · es fuerza pública (police force) · fr gendarmerie (police force) · la vigilia (police force) · el χωροφυλακή (police force) · bg полиция (police force) · nl politiemacht (police force) · cs policejní sbor (police force)