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gendarme

gendarme, police officer (rural)

noun zhahn-DARM Less Common
People & Society Law

Origin: Old French 'gens d'armes' (men-at-arms)

Usage Note

Gendarme refers specifically to a member of the Gendarmerie nationale, a military branch of French law enforcement responsible for rural areas and smaller towns — as opposed to the police nationale, which covers cities. The feminine form gendarme is increasingly used for women officers. The word is widely borrowed internationally.

Examples

"Le gendarme a contrôlé nos papiers."

Natural Translation

The gendarme checked our papers.

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