constable

¹

[kon-stuh-buhl, kuhn-]

noun

1. an officer of the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town, rural district, etc.

2. Chiefly British.,  a police officer.

3. an officer of high rank in medieval monarchies, usually the commander of all armed forces, especially in the absence of the ruler.

4. the keeper or governor of a royal fortress or castle.

Constable

²

[kuhn-stuh-buhl, kon-]

noun

1. John, 1776–1837, English painter.

constable

¹

/ ˌkɒn-, ˈkʌnstəbəl /

noun

1. (in Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc) a police officer of the lowest rank

2. any of various officers of the peace, esp one who arrests offenders, serves writs, etc

3. the keeper or governor of a royal castle or fortress

4. (in medieval Europe) the chief military officer and functionary of a royal household, esp in France and England

5. an officer of a hundred in medieval England, originally responsible for raising the military levy but later assigned other administrative duties

Constable

²

/ ˈkʌnstəbəl /

noun

1. John. 1776–1837, English landscape painter, noted particularly for his skill in rendering atmospheric effects of changing light

Other Word Forms

• constableship noun
• underconstable noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of constable¹

1200–50; Middle English conestable < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin comes stabulī count ² of the stable ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of constable¹

C13: from Old French, from Late Latin comes stabulī officer in charge of the stable, from Latin comes comrade + stabulum dwelling, stable; see also _count ²

Example Sentences

Born in Mauritius, where he worked as a police constable, Mr Dursonial saved up for two years and sold his motorcycle to pay for the flights to the UK.

Read more on BBC

One of the officers, a police constable, remains under criminal investigation for the potential offence of perverting the course of justice, they added.

Read more on BBC

The chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, told the BBC that his force had "very significantly" stepped up patrols, but he acknowledged that level could not be maintained forever.

Read more on BBC

He said police vans were also damaged and constables "pelted with" bottles, eggs and fireworks.

Read more on BBC

GMP chief constable Sir Stephen Watson said there were many worshippers inside the synagogue at the time of the incident.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• detective 
• patrolman 
• policeman 
• policewoman