Word Origins

Coppers

Why are police officers referred to as coppers?? Where did this word come from?

xZetax Wed 05/03/08 19:31

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Postdog
Wed 05/03/08
22:02

From the latin CAPPERE meaning to capture.

Quizmonster
Thurs 06/03/08
06:44

To add a litle detail to Postdog's answer above... 'cop' is an old English word meaning 'to catch'. It comes from the French verb 'caper' and, even further back, from the Latin one 'capere'. That's what a policeman's job is...to catch baddies. Hence the names cop and copper. Lots of people say it comes from the copper buttons they supposedly had on their uniforms long ago and others say it is an acronym for 'Constable on Patrol'. However, I'd advise you to go with the etymology offered by the word-bible...The Oxford English Dictionary which suggests cop = catch is the explanation.

jd_here
Mon 24/03/08
10:33

Sorry, you're both wrong. It's a derivation of the term COP which is what the early scallies would cry out to their accomplices, it meant 'constable on patrol' So now you know! JD

Quizmonster
Fri 28/03/08
11:20

No, we're not...we're right and you're wrong! Michael Quinion is a noted etymologist and lexicographer...that is, an expert in the meaning and history of English words and phrases. He even worked on The Oxford English Dictionary, recognised as the 'bible' in such matters.
If you click here you will be taken to his web-page about 'cop', where you will see that he dismisses your explanation as being 'spurious' and 'unlikely' and supports our explanation.

I'm sure xZetax wants the right explanation.

beso
Thurs 03/04/08
11:52

COP for Constable on Patrol is a backronym.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym

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