gendarme
[ zhahn-dahrm; French zhahn-darm ]
/ ˈʒɑn dɑrm; French ʒɑ̃ˈdarm /
noun, plural gen·darmes [zhahn-dahrmz; French zhahn-darm] /ˈʒɑn dɑrmz; French ʒɑ̃ˈdarm/.
a police officer in any of several European countries, especially a French police officer.
a soldier, especially in France, serving in an army group acting as armed police with authority over civilians.
(formerly) a cavalryman in charge of a French cavalry squad.
Origin of gendarme
1540–50; < Middle French, earlier
gens d'armes, alteration of
gent d'armes people at arms
Words nearby gendarme
gena,
genal gland,
genappe,
genappe yarn,
genck,
gendarme,
gendarmerie,
gender,
gender bender,
gender binary,
gender dysphoria
Example sentences from the Web for gendarme
British Dictionary definitions for gendarme
gendarme
/ (ˈʒɒndɑːm, French ʒɑ̃darm) /
noun
a member of the police force in France or in countries formerly influenced or controlled by France
a slang word for a policeman
a sharp pinnacle of rock on a mountain ridge, esp in the Alps
Word Origin for gendarme
C16: from French, from
gens d'armes people of arms