Posse Comitatus Definition

noun
Power of the county.
Webster's New World Law
A sheriff may summon citizens to assist him in making an arrest; hence posse in the traditional Old West sense.
Webster's New World Law
A federal statute prohibiting the Army and Air Force from direct participation in civilian law-enforcement activities.
Webster's New World Law

(historical) The able-bodied men over 15 in a given county who can be summoned by the sheriff to help keep the peace, or arrest a felon; also a group of men so gathered.

Wiktionary
(figuratively) Any band of men, especially armed or hostile.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Origin of Posse Comitatus

  • From Late Latin posse (“to be able (to have)") comitatus (“a company").

    From Wiktionary

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