POSSE COMITATUS


Meaning of POSSE COMITATUS in English

noun

Etymology: Medieval Latin

: the power of a county:

a. : the entire body of the inhabitants who may be summoned by the sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace (as in a riot) or in executing a legal precept that is forcibly opposed including under the common law every male inhabitant who is above 15 years of age and not infirm

b. : a body of persons so summoned

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.