maréchausséen.
/ˈmareɪʃəʊˌseɪ/, U.S. /ˈˌmɑreɪʃoʊˈˌseɪ/ Chiefly French History.
A French military guard under the command of a marshal. In modern use (humorous or ironic, chiefly in French contexts): the police, the constabulary.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > armed forces > the Army > unit of army > [noun] > body under one commander > specific
corporalate1590
corporalship1591
marshalcy1691
lieutenancies1709
maréchaussée1775
fire command1894
society > law > law enforcement > police force or the police > [noun] > police forces in specific countries or regions
holy brotherhooda1739
hermandad1772
religious police1775
state police1779
gendarmerie1792
police1798
Scotland Yard1830
guardia civil1846
RCMP1920
RUC1922
Arab Legion1923
Garda Síochána1923
Schupo1923
Mets1944
Vopo1954
maréchaussée1955
U.S.C.1963
Garda1970
1775 T. Blaikie Diary Sc. Gardener (1931) 29 There is a garde called the Maréchaussée which padrols [sic] the roads.
1777 P. Thicknesse Year's Journey France & Spain I. vi. 41 There was a guard of the Marechaussée, to prevent the prisoners' escape.
1879 Encycl. Brit. X. 142/1 It [sc. the word gendarmerie] has been since that time employed to denote a military police, whose duties are to watch over the public safety, keep order,..[etc.]. This police force superseded the old maréchaussée.
1955 J. Thomas No Banners v. 43 If we disappear now..we'll have the whole Maréchaussée after us.
1974 N. Freeling Dressing of Diamond 202 The marechaussée..reappeared..in freshly pressed khaki gabardines.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1775