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

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