constable

[ kon-stuh-buh l or, esp. British, kuhn- ]
/ ˈkɒn stə bəl or, esp. British, ˈkʌn- /

noun

an officer of the peace, having police and minor judicial functions, usually in a small town, rural district, etc.
Chiefly British. a police officer.
an officer of high rank in medieval monarchies, usually the commander of all armed forces, especially in the absence of the ruler.
the keeper or governor of a royal fortress or castle.

Origin of constable

1200–50; Middle English conestable < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin comes stabulī count2 of the stable1

OTHER WORDS FROM constable

con·sta·ble·ship, noun un·der·con·sta·ble, noun

Definition for constable (2 of 2)

Constable
[ kuhn-stuh-buh l, kon- ]
/ ˈkʌn stə bəl, ˈkɒn- /

noun

John,1776–1837, English painter.

Example sentences from the Web for constable

British Dictionary definitions for constable (1 of 2)

constable
/ (ˈkʌnstəbəl, ˌkɒn-) /

noun

(in Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc) a police officer of the lowest rank
any of various officers of the peace, esp one who arrests offenders, serves writs, etc
the keeper or governor of a royal castle or fortress
(in medieval Europe) the chief military officer and functionary of a royal household, esp in France and England
an officer of a hundred in medieval England, originally responsible for raising the military levy but later assigned other administrative duties

Derived forms of constable

constableship, noun

Word Origin for constable

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

British Dictionary definitions for constable (2 of 2)

Constable
/ (ˈkʌnstəbəl) /

noun

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