posse comitatus

[ pos-ee kom-i-tah-tuhs, -tey- ]

noun

1. the body of persons that a peace officer of a county is empowered to call upon for assistance in preserving the peace, making arrests, and serving writs.
2. a body of persons so called into service.

posse comitatus

/ ˌkɒmɪˈtɑːtəs /

noun

1. See posse
   the formal legal term for posse

Word History and Origins

Origin of posse comitatus¹

1620–30; < Medieval Latin: posse of the county

Word History and Origins

Origin of posse comitatus¹

Medieval Latin: strength (manpower) of the county

Example Sentences

Did me and you have a search warrant or a posse comitatus when we rounded up them six Mexican cow thieves down in Hidalgo?

From Project Gutenberg

No citizen is bound to an active execution of this law, unless called upon as one of the posse comitatus.

From Project Gutenberg

When he arrived, he called for a posse comitatus to assist him in handling the situation; but no one responded.

From Project Gutenberg

The Baron who put John de Northwode and his posse comitatus to flight left a daughter, his sole heiress.

From Project Gutenberg

Straightway the magistrate hastened to the post-office, and swore in, as a posse comitatus, the first four men that he met.

From Project Gutenberg