gendarme

Where does the word "gendarme" come from? It comes from Latin gens + arma, passing through Old French and French before entering English (1796).

Gendarme’s story begins in Latin: gens + arma meant “men at arms.” 'people, nation' and 'weapons' combined. By 1300s, the word had taken hold in Old French as gens d'armes. A compound phrase for armed troops. From there it passed into French as gendarme by 1540s-1790s. Contracted into a single word for a mounted trooper, then formalized as the name of France's military police. It reached English by 1796 as gendarme. Borrowed for the French police force. Today, gendarme means a member of the French police force, especially one with military-style organization.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient gens + arma "men at arms", 'people, nation' and 'weapons' combined.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · 1300s gens d'armes "men at arms", a compound phrase for armed troops.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1540s-1790s gendarme "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 · English · 1796 gendarme "a member of the French military police", borrowed for the French police force.