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Dictionary Language resources

gendarme

Syllabification: (gen·darme)

Pronunciation: /ˈZHändärm/

Definition of gendarme

noun

1an armed police officer in France and other French-speaking countries.

2a rock pinnacle on a mountain, occupying and blocking an arête.

Origin:

mid 16th century (originally denoting a mounted officer in the French army): French, from gens d'armes 'men of arms'. gendarme (sense 1) dates from the late 18th century