posse comitatus

noun

: 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

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin

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