posse

The definition of a posse is a group of people who come together for a common goal or who stand up for something together.

(noun)

A group of people who are brought together by a sheriff to help with law enforcement is an example of a posse.
If you get into an argument with someone and start a fist-fight and you have five of your friends to back you up in the fight, these five friends are an example of your posse.

See posse in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

Historical
in full posse comitatus
1. the body of men required, upon being summoned, to assist the sheriff in keeping the peace, pursuing felons, etc.
2. a band of men, usually armed, so summoned
any body of persons armed with legal authority
☆
1. in the Old West, a group assembled to hunt for criminal fugitives
2. a search party
Slang
1. a gang, esp. one engaged in selling drugs
2. any group of people, as of a person's friends and associates

Origin: ML, short for posse comitatus, power of the county < L posse, to be able (see potent) + comitatus, county < comes, a count

See posse in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A group of people summoned by a sheriff to aid in law enforcement.
A search party.
A gang involved in crimes such as running guns and illegal narcotics trafficking.
Slang A group of friends or associates.

Origin:

Origin: Short for Medieval Latin posse comitātūs

Origin: : Medieval Latin posse, power, body of men (from Latin, to be able; see potent)

Origin: + comitātūs

Origin: , genitive of comitātus, county

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