释义 |
‖ posse comitatus|ˈpɒsiː kɒmɪˈteɪtəs, -tjʊs| [med. (Anglo) L., force of the county: see prec. and county.] ‘The force of the county’; the body of men above the age of fifteen in a county (exclusive of peers, clergymen, and infirm persons), whom the sheriff may summon or ‘raise’ to repress a riot or for other purposes; also, a body of men actually so raised and commanded by the sheriff. (Also abbreviated to posse: see prec. 1).
[12852nd Stat. Westminster c. 39 Assumpto secum posse comitatus sui est [vicecomes] in propria persona. ]a1626Bacon (J.), The posse comitatus, the power of the whole county, is legally committed unto him. 1628in Crt. & Times Chas. I (1848) I. 453 The high sheriff of Dorsetshire had order to raise possé comitatus, to attack those unfencers of Gillingham forest. 1765Blackstone Comm. I. ix. 343 For keeping the peace and pursuing felons, he may command all the people of his county to attend him; which is called the posse comitatus, or power of the county. 1840Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Grey Dolphin, Sheriff..of Kent..with his posse comitatus. b. transf. = posse 1 c.
1819Byron Juan i. clxiv, With him retired his posse comitatus. 1860Tristram Gt. Sahara x. 160 On a house⁓top were a bevy of nut-brown maids, who..had forgotten to veil their faces. They were consequently pelted with stones by some of the posse comitatus, and retired in confusion. |