2006-07-22 06:22:57 · 10 answers · asked by Brianman3 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
So many different answers... which one is right?
2006-07-22 06:42:59 · update #1
Come on, people! How am I supposed to choose the best answer without hard evidence that you're right! I'm the judge here! Sway me! Sway me like you've never swayed before!
2006-07-23 10:18:19 · update #2
Since I have so many answers, and STILL don't know which is true, I will submit this to a vote.
2006-07-28 07:48:02 · update #3
Apparently, a lot of people have a lot of theories!! According to a Web search that I did, the source of the term is neither from copper (buttons or badges) nor an acronym. It is from Latin, capere, "to seize" which is also related to the English word "capture".
2006-07-22 08:57:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The police in Britain were called coppers because of the copper buttons on their uniforms, which were very reflective at night, and this made them easy to spot from a distance. The buttons would be the first sign of an approaching policeman, so the bad guy would yell "Cops" to his fellow baddies.
2006-07-22 23:58:46 · answer #2 · answered by seefo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I have had criminal justice classes back in college and the word "cop" is an abbreviation of three words "Community-Oriented Policing", so as time went on we shortened it to COP. Today, that word has become a part of our vernacular.
2006-07-22 13:29:23 · answer #3 · answered by A Tsa Di 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I heard different from the other answers. I heard that back in England that a patrol officer was called a "constable on patrol" and their written titles were abbreviated c.o.p.'s.
2006-07-22 13:31:38 · answer #4 · answered by Doctor ~W. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not derived from "police officer" it's derived from "copper" a common British term for a police officer
2006-07-22 13:32:26 · answer #5 · answered by tjmunch 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The original word was "copper" because of the copper buttons on their uniforms.
2006-07-22 13:26:22 · answer #6 · answered by stullerrl 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
PoliCe Officer- see all caps form COP. it sounds cooler then any other combination. like..., REL, COL, FIC, EFC, PIC, PIE. hahahahaha!!!
2006-07-22 13:26:54 · answer #7 · answered by JZX 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Old English:
COP to grab or capture
COPPER someone who grabs or captures
2006-07-22 13:34:28 · answer #8 · answered by Gandalf Parker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure where or when it happened, but C.O.P. is short for Citizens on Patrol.
2006-07-22 13:33:31 · answer #9 · answered by GAB & R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
their badges used to be made of copper...
..people called them " coppers "...which was shortened to " COP "
2006-07-22 13:25:50 · answer #10 · answered by Campbell Gramma 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋