constable

One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)

Noun

  1. One holding the lowest rank in most Commonwealth police forces. (See also chief constable.)
    • As soon as Julia returned with a constable, Timothy, who was on the point of exhaustion, prepared to give over to him gratefully. The newcomer turned out to be a powerful youngster, fully trained and eager to help, and...
  2. A police officer or an officer with equivalent powers.
  3. 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. 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.

Origin

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.

Forms

constables

Synonyms

police officer

Derived

assistant chief constable Burton Constable Constable Burton constablery constableship constabless constablewick constabulary cst. CST deputy chief constable hog constable Melton Constable outrun the constable overrun the constable police constable special constable subconstable underconstable

Verb

  1. To act as a constable or policeman.

Forms

constables constabling constabled