constable

English

Etymology

Old French conestable ( > French connétable), from Latin comes stabulī (“officer of the stables”). For the sense-development, compare marshall.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ˈkʌnstəbəl/

Noun

constable (plural constables)

1. (UK, New Zealand) A police officer ranking below sergeant in most British/New Zealand police forces. (See also Chief Constable).
2. Officer of a noble court in the middle ages, usually a senior army commander. (See also marshal).
3. (US) Public officer, usually at municipal level, responsible for maintaining order or serving writs and court orders.
4. (Channel Islands) A elected head of a parish (also known as a connétable)

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:police officer

Translations

police officer rank

• Bulgarian: полицай (bg) (policaj) m
• Italian: appuntato (carabinieri) m, agente m (polizia)
• Malay: konstabel (ms)

• Russian: констебль (ru) (konsteblʹ) m
• Scottish Gaelic: maor-sìthe (gd) m
• Swedish: konstapel (sv) c

officer of a noble court

• French: connétable (fr) m and f
• Portuguese: condestável (pt) m

• Russian: констебль (ru) (konsteblʹ) m, коннетабль (ru) (konnetablʹ) m

elected head of a parish

• French: connétable (fr) m and f
• Guernésiais: counnétablle m

• Jèrriais: connêtabl'ye m

Derived terms

• constabulary