constable

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

Mr. Webster notices the following distinction between the application of this word in England and in the


United States: "In England there are high constables, petty constables and constables of London. In the United States constables are town or city officers of the peace, with powers similar to those possessed by the constables in Great Britain." Mr. Pickering says that "in many of the cities, boroughs, and other local jurisdictions in England, they have peace officers called constables, whose powers are not materially, if at all, different from those of our constables."

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