1
Stage 1 of 4
gens + arma
Latin · ancient
"men at arms"
'people, nation' and 'weapons' combined
2
Stage 2 of 4
gens d'armes
Old French · 1300s
"men at arms"
a compound phrase for armed troops
3
Stage 3 of 4
gendarme
French · 1540s-1790s
"a mounted trooper; French military police"
contracted into a single word for a mounted trooper, then formalized as the name of France's military police
4
Stage 4 of 4
gendarme
English · 1796
"a member of the French military police"
borrowed for the French police force
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom