posse comitatus

English

Wikipedia

Etymology

From Late Latin posse (“to be able (to have)”) comitatus (“a company”).

Noun

posse comitatus (uncountable)

1. (historical) The able-bodied men over 15 in a given county who can be summoned by the sheriff to help keep the peace, or arrest a felon; also a group of men so gathered.
2. (figuratively) Any band of men, especially armed or hostile.
   • 1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, I:

     With him retired his ‘posse comitatus,’ / The attorney last, who linger'd near the door / Reluctantly [...].