Etymology Map
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Constable

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a police officer of the lowest rank

Where does the word "constable" come from? It comes from Late Latin comes stabuli, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
comes stabuli
Late Latin · 400s
"master of the horse"
'count of the stable', the officer in charge of the imperial, and later Frankish royal, horses
2
Stage 2 of 3
conestable
Old French · 1100s
"chief officer"
rose to become commander of the French army; Bertrand du Guesclin was made Constable of France in 1370
3
Stage 3 of 3
constable
English · 1200s
"police officer"
from castle-keeper down to village officer; Robert Peel's police of 1829 made it the basic police rank
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Read the full story

Constable’s story begins in Late Latin: comes stabuli meant “master of the horse.” 'count of the stable', the officer in charge of the imperial, and later Frankish royal, horses. By 1100s, the word had taken hold in Old French as conestable. Rose to become commander of the French army; Bertrand du Guesclin was made Constable of France in 1370. It reached English by 1200s as constable. From castle-keeper down to village officer; Robert Peel's police of 1829 made it the basic police rank. Today, constable means a police officer of the lowest rank.