posse comitatus
nounEtymology From Late Latin posse comitātūs (“force of the county”, literally “power of the county”).
1
Historical The able-bodied men over 15 in a given county who can be summoned by the sheriff to help keep the peace, or arrest a felon; also a group of men so gathered.
- They are the standing army, and the militia, jailers, constables, posse comitatus, etc.1849, Henry David Thoreau, Resistance to Civil Government:
2
Figuratively Any band of men, especially armed or hostile.
- With him retired his ‘posse comitatus,’ / The attorney last, who linger'd near the door / Reluctantly […]1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, section I:
- Derived terms
- posse