GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Found 2 definitions
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Police , n. [F., fr. L. politia the condition of a state, government, administration, Gr. >, fr. > to be a citizen, to govern or administer a state, fr. > citizen, fr. > city; akin to Skr. pur, puri. Cf. Policy polity, Polity.]
- A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough.1913 Webster
- That which concerns the order of the community; the internal regulation of a state.1913 Webster
- The organized body of civil officers in a city, town, or district, whose particular duties are the preservation of good order, the prevention and detection of crime, and the enforcement of the laws.1913 Webster
- (Mil.) Military police, the body of soldiers detailed to preserve civil order and attend to sanitary arrangements in a camp or garrison.1913 Webster
- The cleaning of a camp or garrison, or the state > a camp as to cleanliness.1913 Webster
Police commissioner, a civil officer, usually one of a board, commissioned to regulate and control the appointment, duties, and discipline of the police. -- Police constable, or Police officer, a policeman. -- Police court, a minor court to try persons brought before it by the police. -- Police inspector, an officer of police ranking next below a superintendent. -- Police jury, a body of officers who collectively exercise jurisdiction in certain cases of police, as levying taxes, etc.; -- so called in Louisiana. Bouvier. -- Police justice, or Police magistrate, a judge of a police court. -- Police offenses (Law), minor offenses against the order of the community, of which a police court may have final jurisdiction. -- Police station, the headquarters of the police, or of a section of them; the place where the police assemble for orders, and to which they take arrested persons.
1913 Webster
- A judicial and executive system, for the government of a city, town, or district, for the preservation of rights, order, cleanliness, health, etc., and for the enforcement of the laws and prevention of crime; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city, incorporated town, or borough.
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Police, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Policed ; p. pr. & vb. n. Policing.]
- To keep in order by police.1913 Webster
- (Mil.) To make clean; as, to police a camp.1913 Webster
- To keep in order by police.