/ˈpɒs.i/, /ˈpɑs.i/
OriginEllipsis of posse comitatus.
- A group or company of people, originally especially one having hostile intent; a throng, a crowd.
“It is traditional in America to criticize the schools; for more than a century, parents, self-styled experts, and educators themselves have attacked and indicted the educational system. No aspect of s”
- historicalA group of people summoned to help law enforcement.
“He […] no sooner set his nose within the room to which he was directed, than the constable and his posse sprung upon him, before he had the least intimation of his design, or any opportunity of acting”
“Mathews then appointed Morton as a deputy sheriff and after a posse had been selected, they went in pursuit of the criminals. Within a few hours, the posse overtook the thieves.”
“While Wyatt dismounted and aimed his shotgun at Brocius, the rest of his posse retreated.”
- USA search party.
- Jamaica, US, slangA criminal gang.
“Jamaican posses can be traced back to the Jamaican neighborhoods, and posse names correspond to the names of each neighborhood in which the gangs operate.”
- colloquialA group of (especially young) people seen as constituting a peer group or band of associates; a gang, a group of friends.
“Hey, sir? Sir, excuse me?” The blonde was calling out to him, in imperious tones that insisted on a reply. […] She was breaking a rule of big-city life, breaking it brazenly, sure of her power, confid”
“But the few friends that I DO have are my “ride or die” chicks—my posse.”
Formsposses(plural)