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Definition of posse - 4 dictionary results

pos⋅se

  [pos-ee]
Use posse in a Sentence
–noun
1. posse comitatus.
2. a body or force armed with legal authority.
Origin:
1575–85; < ML posse power, force, n. use of L inf.: to be able, have power, equiv. to pot- (see potent ) + -se inf. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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pos·se   (pŏs'ē)   
n.  
  1. A group of people summoned by a sheriff to aid in law enforcement.
  2. A search party.
  3. A gang involved in crimes such as running guns and illegal narcotics trafficking.
  4. Slang A group of friends or associates.

[Short for Medieval Latin posse comitātūs : Medieval Latin posse, power, body of men (from Latin, to be able; see potent) + comitātūs, genitive of comitātus, county.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Posse

Pos"se\, n. See Posse comitatus.

In posse. See In posse in the Vocabulary.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : posse
Spanish: pelotón, patrulla,
German: das (Polizei-)Aufgebot,
Japanese: 一隊
More Translations »

posse 
1645 (in Anglo-L. from 1314), shortening of posse comitatus "the force of the country" (1626, in Anglo-L. from 1285), from M.L. posse "body of men, power," from L. posse "have power, be able" + comitatus "of the country," gen. of L.L. word for "court palace." Modern slang meaning "small gang" is probably from Western movies.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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