I know it is NOT "Constable of Justice" or some other acronym.
2006-11-08 01:20:51 · 8 answers · asked by jack b 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
Police badges or shields were once made from copper. Police in some northeastern cities were often refferred to as "coppers" which evolved into cops.
If you look at old movies from the 1930s you will see police frequently called "coppers"
2006-11-08 06:17:32 · answer #1 · answered by imaginary friend 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I have heard 2 etymologies for "cop". 1) it is an acronym for "constable on patrol".
2) it is a diminutive of "copper", an allusion to the copper buttons which used to adorn policemen's uniforms.
2006-11-08 11:30:30 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The actual word "cop" means to get ahold of, catch or capture. If you would like the history of the word, I'll include the link below. And actually the misconception of the copper buttons being where the word came from didn't happen until over a century later. See the link, it explains everything.
2006-11-08 09:24:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it actually came from the old uniforms they wore in new york or boston back in the 1800s the uniforms had copper buttons on the jackets. cop comes from copper
2006-11-08 09:24:52 · answer #4 · answered by repoman747 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's short for Copper, what policemen are called in the UK
2006-11-08 09:29:52 · answer #5 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
repoman is right. It comes from what their 'shield' or badges were made of back in the day, which was copper at that time.
2006-11-08 09:30:29 · answer #6 · answered by Sean H 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE PO-PO
(police)
2006-11-08 09:22:45 · answer #7 · answered by The Nutmeg Master 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
police-officer
2006-11-08 09:25:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋