[zhahn-dahrm; Fr. zhahn-darm] 
[-dahrmz; Fr. -darm] . | 1. | a police officer in any of several European countries, esp. a French police officer. |
| 2. | a soldier, esp. in France, serving in an army group acting as armed police with authority over civilians. |
| 3. | (formerly) a cavalryman in charge of a French cavalry squad. |
| gen·darme (zhän'därm', zhäɴ'därm') n.
[French, from Old French gent d'armes, gendarme, sing. of gens d'armes, mounted soldiers, men-at-arms : gens, people, men (from Latin gentēs, pl. of gēns, clan; see genə- in Indo-European roots) + de, of (from Latin dē; see de-) + armes, pl. of arme, weapon; see arm2.] |