constable

Meaning

Noun

1. One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)
2. (UK) A police officer or an officer with equivalent powers.
3. (historical) An officer of a noble court in the Middle Ages, usually a senior army commander. (See also marshal).
4. The warden of a castle.
5. (US) An elected or appointed public officer, usually at municipal level, responsible for maintaining order or serving writs and court orders.
6. An elected head of a parish (also known as a connétable)
7. A large butterfly, Dichorragia nesimachus, family Nymphalidae, of Asia.

Verb

To act as a constable or policeman.

Synonyms

policeman

👮‍♂️

cop

👮

police officer

👮

patrolman

gendarme

police constable

copper

bobby

policewoman

👮‍♀️

officer

police

👮

actor

agent

operative

guardian

guard

💂

ranger

bailiff

woman police constable

Translations

connétable

guardia

Polizist

👮

policía

gendarme

polis

👮

poliziotto

👮‍♂️

policia

👮

agent

politieagent

👮

agente

policier

👮

agente

agent

👮

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkʌnstəbəl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: constable

In summary

From Middle English constable, cunstable, constabil, connestable, cunestable, from Old French conestable, from Latin comes stabulī (“officer of the stables”). For the sense-development; compare marshal. Doublet of connétable.