posse comitatus

Noun
Synonyms: posseposse comitatus

WordNet 3.0

Noun (1)

  1. a temporary police forceSynonyms: posseposse comitatus
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Posse comitatus \Pos"se com`i*ta"tus\ [L. posse to be able, to have power + LL. comitatus a county, from comes, comitis, a count. See County, and Power.] [1913 Webster]

1.(Law) The power of the county, or the citizens who may be summoned by the sheriff to assist the authorities in suppressing a riot, or executing any legal precept which is forcibly opposed. --Blackstone. [1913 Webster]

2.A collection of people; a throng; a rabble. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

Note: The word comitatus is often omitted, and posse alone used. "A whole posse of enthusiasts." --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]

As if the passion that rules were the sheriff of the place, and came off with all the posse.— Locke.[1913 Webster]
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