Word of the day: Constabulary

In any society, law and order can only be maintained through a systematic arrangement of powers. Regardless of whether it is the maintenance of security, prevention of criminal acts, or enforcement of laws, there are always well-organised powers charged with such responsibilities. Constabulary is an official term for such an arrangement of power, particularly in reference to a group of policemen tasked with ensuring peace in a particular locality. The word is used mainly in official circles and could mean either the policemen or anything about the police.Constabulary refers to a police force or the system responsible for maintaining law and order in a particular area.The origin of the word constabulary can be traced back to Latin “constabularius” meaning “stable officer”. The word has a connection with another word, “comes stabuli”, a title for an official who took care of the stables within the Roman Empire.Gradually, the concept took on different connotations during medieval times in Europe and acquired a sense of order and power. During the 15th century, it became part of the English language, denoting officials responsible for maintaining law and order.