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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

gen·darme

Audio Help [zhahn-dahrm; Fr. zhahn-darm] Pronunciation Key

–noun, plural -darmes

Audio Help [-dahrmz; Fr. -darm] Pronunciation Key.

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.

[Origin: 1540–50; < MF, earlier gens d'armes, alter. of gent d'armes people at arms

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
gendarmes

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gen·darme Audio Help (zhän'därm', zhäɴ'därm') Pronunciation Key
n.

A member of the French national police organization constituting a branch of the armed forces with responsibility for general law enforcement.
Slang A police officer.

[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.]

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