rurales

or Ru·ral·es

[ roo-ral-is; Spanish roo-rah-les ]

plural noun

1. a mounted rural police force of Mexico, active during the latter half of the 19th century and into the early 20th century.
2. a volunteer military reserve force of Mexico, established in 1926.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rurales¹

First recorded in 1875–80; from Spanish: literally, “rural (ones)”; rural ( def )

Example Sentences

In Canada the mounted police have kept brigandage down, and in Mexico the "Rurales" have made an end of the brigands.

From Project Gutenberg

But this was before the work of President Diaz and his rurales.

From Project Gutenberg

I offered him his choice of weapons if he will return and fight the rurales!

From Project Gutenberg

Every warrior burned to go into Mexico and fight the rurales.

From Project Gutenberg

When the rurales were four hundred yards away they stopped to fire.

From Project Gutenberg