gen·darme  (zhän därm ′, zhä ɴ′därm )
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n.1. A member of the French national police organization constituting a branch of the armed forces with responsibility for general law enforcement. 2. Slang A police officer. 3. A subsidiary pinnacle on a steep mountain ridge.
[French, from Old French gent d'armes, gendarme, sing. of gens d'armes, mounted soldiers, men-at-arms : gens, people, men (from Latin gentēs, pl. of gēns, clan; see genə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + de, of (from Latin dē; see DE-) + armes, pl. of arme, weapon; see ARM2.] |
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