constable

English

/ˈkʌnstəbəl/, /ˈkɑnstəbəl/

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

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English constable derived from Old French conestable (constable) derived from Latin comes stabulī (officer of the stables).

Origin

Latin

comes stabulī

Gloss

officer of the stables

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms