copper

[frogdob]

what is the origin of copper, as in policeman?

[Quizmonster]

'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 name.
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 for 'cop' and 'copper'.

[sparkymick]

i read that the american copper was derived from the 8 pointed copper star that the NYPD wore

[joko]

i read somewhere that in america its cop - chief of police