\Con"sta*ble\ (k[u^]n"st[.a]*b'l), n. [OE. conestable,
constable, a constable (in sense 1), OF. conestable, F.
conn['e]table, LL. conestabulus, constabularius, comes
stabuli, orig., count of the stable, master of the horse,
equerry; comes count (L. companion) + L. stabulum stable. See
{Count} a nobleman, and {Stable}.]
1. A high officer in the monarchical establishments of the
   Middle Ages.
Note: The constable of France was the first officer of the
      crown, and had the chief command of the army. It was
      also his duty to regulate all matters of chivalry. The
      office was suppressed in 1627. The constable, or lord
      high constable, of England, was one of the highest
      officers of the crown, commander in chief of the
      forces, and keeper of the peace of the nation. He also
      had judicial cognizance of many important matters. The
      office was as early as the Conquest, but has been
      disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since
      the attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the
      reign of Henry VIII.
2. (Law) An officer of the peace having power as a
   conservator of the public peace, and bound to execute the
   warrants of judicial officers. --Bouvier.
Note: In England, at the present time, the constable is a
      conservator of the peace within his district, and is
      also charged by various statutes with other duties,
      such as serving summons, precepts, warrants, etc. In
      the United States, constables are town or city officers
      of the peace, with powers similar to those of the
      constables of England. In addition to their duties as
      conservators of the peace, they are invested with
      others by statute, such as to execute civil as well as
      criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts,
      keep juries, etc. In some cities, there are officers
      called {high constables}, who act as chiefs of the
      constabulary or police force. In other cities the title
      of constable, as well as the office, is merged in that
      of the police officer.
{High constable}, a constable having certain duties and
   powers within a hundred. [Eng.]
{Petty constable}, a conservator of the peace within a parish
   or tithing; a tithingman. [Eng.]
{Special constable}, a person appointed to act as constable
   of special occasions.
{To} {overrun, or outrun}, {the constable}, to spend more
   than one's income; to get into debt. [Colloq.] --Smollett.