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posse comitatus

Variant of posse

noun

  1. Historical
    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
  2. 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
  3. Slang
    1. a gang, esp. one engaged in selling drugs
    2. any group of people, as of a person's friends and associates

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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