Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A peace officer with less authority and smaller jurisdiction than a sheriff, empowered to serve writs and warrants and make arrests.
- noun A medieval officer of high rank, usually serving as military commander in the absence of a monarch.
- noun The governor of a royal castle.
- noun Chiefly British A police officer.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun An officer of high rank in several of the medieval monarchies.
- noun An officer chosen to aid in keeping the peace, and to serve legal process in cases of minor importance.
- noun To live beyond one's means. In this latter sense also
overrun the constable . - noun The commander of a constabulary or company of men-at-arms.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A high officer in the monarchical establishments of the Middle Ages.
- noun (Law) An officer of the peace having power as a conservator of the public peace, and bound to execute the warrants of judicial officers.
- noun [Eng.] a constable having certain duties and powers within a hundred.
- noun [Eng.] a conservator of the peace within a parish or tithing; a tithingman.
- noun a person appointed to act as constable of special occasions.
- noun [Colloq.] to spend more than one's income; to get into debt.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun UK, New Zealand A
police officer ranking belowsergeant in most British/New Zealand police forces. (See also Chief Constable). - noun Officer of a noble court in the middle ages, usually a senior army commander. (See also
marshal ). - noun US Public officer, usually at municipal level, responsible for maintaining order or serving
writs andcourt orders. - noun A elected head of a
parish (also known as aconnétable )
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun English landscape painter (1776-1837)
- noun a police officer of the lowest rank
- noun a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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One of the things I have found a bit depressing about being a constable is the realisation that money and an expensive education is no guarantee of good manners and common sense.
Good For The Goose « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2008
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“Should I call a constable?” the housekeeper asked.
Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011
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“Should I call a constable?” the housekeeper asked.
Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011
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As it happens, Chabot's new constable is Silas Jones, a former high-school friend of Ott's now returned to his old stomping grounds.
Death in L.A.; Southern Suspicion; Spenser Gets Artistic Tom Nolan 2010
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Likewise if a lowly constable is failing he too is moved on.
Police Do As They Are Told Shock!!!! « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009
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“Should I call a constable?” the housekeeper asked.
Earl of Durkness Alix Rickloff 2011
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A constable is the servant of the people, and it is not his place to mete out summary punishment to those whom he decides have failed to accord him the respect he feels he deserves.
Ooooh….. I didn’t know that! « POLICE INSPECTOR BLOG Inspector Gadget 2009
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Then let us call a constable to ask the same question.
The Thief Taker Janet Gleeson 2004
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Then let us call a constable to ask the same question.
The Thief Taker Janet Gleeson 2004
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Then let us call a constable to ask the same question.
The Thief Taker Janet Gleeson 2004
chained_bear commented on the word constable
Title of the governor of the castle; also warden, captain, castellan.
August 24, 2008
oroboros commented on the word constable
Derivation: "count of the stable" - the man who counted the King's horses every morning to verify none missing. (via NPR's Says You)
January 2, 2011