/zhahn"dahrm/ ; Fr. /zhahonn dannrddm"/ , n. , pl. gendarmes /-dahrmz/ ; Fr. /-dannrddm"/ .
1. a police officer in any of several European countries, esp. a French police officer.
2. a soldier, esp. in France, serving in an army group acting as armed police with authority over civilians.
3. (formerly) a cavalryman in charge of a French cavalry squad.
[ 1540-50; gens d'armes, alter. of gent d'armes people at arms ]