comitatus

noun

com·​i·​ta·​tus

ˌkäməˈtätəs,

-tād-

plural -es

1

: a body of wellborn men attached to a king or chieftain by the duty of military service

also : the status of the body so attached

2

[Medieval Latin, from Latin] : county

—used chiefly in the phrase posse comitatus

Word History

Etymology

Latin, escort, retinue, imperial court, from comit-, comes companion + -atus -ate

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