/ kənˈstæbjələri; NAmE -leri/ noun
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] ( pl. -ies ) (in Britain) the police force of a particular area or town
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WORD ORIGIN
late 15th cent. (denoting the district under the charge of a constable): from medieval Latin constabularia (dignitas) (rank) of constable, from constabulus , based on Latin comes stabuli count (head officer) of the stable.