commissairen.
/ˌkɒmᵻˈsɛː/, U.S. /ˌkɑməˈsɛ(ə)r/ 1. = commissary n.1 (in various senses).Now chiefly in French contexts; esp. = commissary n.1 7.
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society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > policeman > head of police force > foreign
commissaire1386
pristav1568
kotwal1582
provost marshal1619
commissary1787
police-master1798
thanadar1802
quaestor1862
ispravnik1886
society > authority > delegated authority > one having delegated or derived authority > [noun] > one to whom a commission is given
commissary1395
commissioner1414
committee1472
commissionar1496
commissionary1555
commis1573
commissionaire1641
commissionee1647
commissaire1791
commendatary1852
commish1871
1386 in D. Macpherson et al. Rotuli Scotiae (1819) II. 85/2 That the commissairs of bathe partys sall mete..at place accordable betwene the wardeins.
1446 in H. Nicolas Proc. & Ordinances Privy Council (1837) VI. 48 And the King wol and chargeth the said commissaires that such sommes of monnoy as..be paied and borowed, that they make therof a bylle.
1549 in J. B. Paul Accts. Treasurer Scotl. (1911) IX. 358 To ane commissair send witht the Franchemen to se thame luget.
a1662 P. Heylyn Aerius Redivivus (1670) x. 362 Fearing lest this Commissaire might in time become a Bishop, it was resolved to tye him up to such Conditions as should disable him from aspiring above the rest of his Brethren.
1753 T. Smollett Ferdinand Count Fathom I. xxv. 167 The commissaire of the quarter, had at first ordered this Oriental to be watched in his out-goings, according to the maxims of the French police.
1791 J. Wedgwood Let. 2 Sept. in Sel. Lett. (1965) 334 The commissaires appointed by the acadamy for the ascertaining of weights and measures.
1842 Dublin Univ. Mag. Nov. 527 A summons enforced by the commissaire himself in a tone of considerable insolence.
1870 Mrs. Ogier Ward Jrnl. 19 Sept. in D.P. Carew Many Years, Many Girls (1967) i. 19 He had obtained a pass from the Commissaire here.
1911 T. E. Lawrence Lett. (1938) 129 It's rather good that the commissaire should be guarding my thefts in all innocence.
1939 F. C. Green Stendhal iii. 61 These commissaires, under Napoleon, were administrative officers... They accompanied the army..arranging for billets and supplies.
2010 P. Duncker Strange Case Composer & his Judge viii. 124 ‘This isn't a social call, Monsieur Grosz,’ snapped the unwelcome Commissaire.
2. Sport. Originally: †the steward of a horse race (obsolete). Now more generally: a racing official in any sport, esp. (Cycling) an official of a cycle race.In early use in French context.
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1827 Sporting Mag. Sept. 340/1 I had been told by one of the Commissaires of the races, or stewards, Monsieur Du Croizec, that some foreign horses were expected.
1846 Bell’s Life in London 11 Oct. 5/3 Chantilly races... M Charles Laffitte officiated as commissaire and judge, and Normandie, assisted by Corringham, started the horses.
1899 Motor Car Jrnl. 25 Aug. 400/2 The commissaires can prevent any competitor from participating in the race if they consider his car dangerous or the driver inexperienced.
1906 Scotsman 9 Apr. 5/4 The Olympian Games..Marathon race..will take place at 3 p.m. Messrs G. Karamalikes..and E. Chrises..have been appointed commissaires.
1962 Times 21 June 3/7 In the Tour of Britain cycle race yesterday... Things got to such a pass that the Chief Commissaire stopped the riders and neutralized the race for four miles.
1993 Orange County (Calif.) Reg. 14 May (Sports section) 13/1 The commissaires reviewed the videotape of the finish [of the Tour DuPont] and upheld the appeal.
2011 N. Boulting How I won Yellow Jumper 110 Draughting on the back wheel of a moto is a not uncommon phenomenon, and..the motorbikes are watched with exaggerated attention by the commissaires.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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