List of police-related slang terms

Many slang terms for police officers exist. The terms are also applied by inmates toward uniformed prison staff. These are often used by the public rather than the police themselves. Many are considered offensive. Like "Metrosexual Hipsters"

The precise sociological and etymological provenance of some of these terms is significant:

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5-O (Five-Oh)

US, slang, for police officers and/or a warning that police are approaching. One origin for the term is from the television show Hawaii Five-O. The 5-O is actually "five zero" (as legally used, Five-0; the 2010 CBS revival writes it that way). It represents that Hawaii was the fiftieth state. Another origin is from the common use of "Five-Oh" (5.0 liter motor) Ford Mustangs by highway patrol agencies from 1982-1993. "Slow down, there's the 5.0." See Special Service Package Mustang.

6-Up

US, slang, west coast, "Look behind you! There are police!"

A

Aina

Swedish, slang for police in some sociolects. From the Turkish Aynasız.

Accoutrements

British police terminology for a police constables personal equipment. At signing-on parade, the procedure was to give the order 'show your accoutrements', at which the constables would produce their handcuffs, truncheons, whistles and notebooks for inspection. This was common practice up to the early 1990s. As officers now carry more equipment for their protection, having every officer produce this at the beginning of a shift would be impracticable. Up until the introduction of police radios officers carried a whistle, (to signal to officers that they required assistance, and to attract the attention of the public) and 3 Old Pence so that, whilst on patrol, the officer could ring the police station from a public phone kiosk. (This amount would, of course, have varied according to the minimum cost of a call from a phone-box.)

Asfalt Kovboyu (Asphalt Cowboy)

Turkish, slang, relates the modern police officers to cowboys. Police officers are called cowboys in Turkey, due to their lawless acts.

Aynasız

The most common slang word to address a police officer in Turkish. The word literally means "mirrorless", and its attribution to a police officer suggests that a cop is perceived as someone who constantly accuses others of vice, whereas he himself has no mirror to see his own vice. It is the semi-official equivalent of the English word "pig" (only when used to refer to the police), and commonly used when translating English-spoken movies into Turkish. Pronunciation is roughly I-nuh-suzz. (Plural: Aynasızlar)

B

Babylon

Jamaican, colloquial, for establishment systems, often applied to the police. Derived from the Rastafari movement.

Bacon

US? Derived from pigs; often used in the structure "I smell bacon" to ridicule and deride the presence of an officer when even barely out of earshot. It probably came from a dog treat commercial.

Bacon sandwich, or Jam sandwich

UK, slang, derogatory, for traffic car, from the colour-scheme, which is generally white, with a longitudinal red, or red and yellow, stripe on each side. (This colour-scheme is dated, modern markings are somewhat different.)

Bait

UK. A term meaning the police or doing something that will get you caught.

Barney

US, term coined after Barney Fife from The Andy Griffith Show.

Bastards

UK, derogatory, derived from the prison knuckle-tattoo A.C.A.B (All Coppers Are Bastards), also used as a lyric by the London punk-band The 4 Skins

Batsi

Greece, (sing. Batsos, in Greek: Μπάτσος), derogatory, the most common slang word for Greek police officers. Literally means punch or slap, derived from the widespread police brutality (and the according mentality), especially when they used to serve oppressive and authoritarian governments in the recent past. The most common anti-police moto is: Batsi, gourounia, dolofoni (cops, pigs, killers), shout en masse in many demonstrations.

Battle Taxi

UK (Liverpool) slang for police van or minibus used to carry a number of officers to the scene of an incident and a similar vehicle used to carry prisoners.

The Bay

US, slang term for Eastern Long Islanders. Derived from the Bay Constable and it is used when someone thinks it's a cop, but it's just the Constable.

Bear

US, short for "Smokey Bear" in reference to the hats worn by some law enforcement officers similar to the ranger hat worn by

"Smokey Bear". "Bear bait" is a reference to speeders, who may draw the attention of the police and allow slightly slower traffic to exceed the speed limit in their wake. "Bear in the Air" is a reference to a police chopper. "Bear in a plain brown wrapper" is a reference to an unmarked patrol car.

Bängen

Swedish slang term for the police. Originally an old Swedish word for devil, from Romani Beng with the same meaning.

Berry

Originating from blueberry, referring to the blue uniform most officers wear.

Boxer briefs

Greek slang. Refers to the police car.

The Big Big Big Big

Originating in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Referring to an over-inflated sense of power.

Big Blue Machine

A somewhat derisive term by smaller independent Municipal Police Services in Ontario to describe the perception the Ontario Provincial Police, or any other large regional police service "assimilating" (assuming policing duties and taking on the staff and resources of) smaller police services. The OPP and other services thus extend the ribbing in various jokes derived from the fictional Borg of Star Trek.

Bill

see Old Bill "The Bill" is the title of two decades of TV soap opera popular in the UK, based in a fictional London borough.

Bizzies

Common Liverpool slang term for the police, it was invented as the police were always too "busy" to help. Also that the police are seen as "busy-bodies" i.e. that they ask too many questions.

Black and White

US, usually refers to a police car, but also extends to the police themselves.

Black Rat

a slang turn for a (UK) traffic officer. Based on the idea that traffic officers will happily prosecute other officers if caught breaking the law. Similarly to the way a black rat will eat its own young.

Blue Heelers

This is a term used in Australia and is related to a breed of dog, the Australian Cattle Dog. It reflects the personality and appearance (blue uniform) of a police officer. Its use has been popularised by the Australian police drama series Blue Heelers.

Blue Meanies

This is a 1960s hippie slang term for the police, it was used in the Beatles film the Yellow Submarine, although many viewers may not have realized its significance. First used during the Free Speech Movement about the Alameda County Sheriff's Office.

Bluebottle

UK, a derogatory term for policeman that may have derived from Cockney rhyming slang and from the action of police when responding to a serious incident, as "swarming like Bluebottles", or blowflies. ('Bottle' is an abbreviation of 'bottle and glass', which is rhyming slang for 'arse', as in the phrase; 'lost your bottle', for having lost one's nerve). (See also Bottles).

Blue steel

A slang term used by officers to describe a robotic police aid (usually a bomb disarming or disposal robot), or a police-issue side arm.

Bobby, Bobbies

UK, a term used to refer to a constable (British bobby) or constables. The term "Bobby on the beat" is often used in politics and the media, in reference to community-based policing, including foot patrols by one local officer (bobby) of a his own small area (beat). The term bobby is derived from the British Home Secretary, Sir Robert Peel (Bobby being a nickname for Robert) the founder of the Metropolitan Police, The term is still in widespread use in the UK both inside and outside the police when referring to uniformed Police Constables. In Britain, volunteer Special Constables are sometimes referred to as Hobby Bobbies.

Boeuf

French for "beef". Refers to German epithet for a policeman or policewoman. Derogatory. Origin: dull, stupid animal. See also "Bull".

Bófias (plural)

Derogatory term for police officers widely used in Portugal.

Bow Street Runners

The Bow Street Runners have been called London's first professional police force. They were founded in 1749 by the author Henry Fielding and originally numbered just eight.

Boys in blue

UK, in reference to the blue uniform.

Bull

An American term usually used to refer to railroad police but may also indicate regular police officers. Also used in German ("Bulle") as a widespread insult for the police officer, sometimes in conjunction with the German word for pig "Bullenschwein".

Bully, Bullymen or Bullyman

Old aboriginal slang for the state police in Queensland Australia.

Buttons

US, used in a black neighborhood, referring to more-traditional police uniforms with brass buttons.

Boton

Uruguay and Argentina. As in several other countries, police uniforms had big badges and buttons.

Bronze

Australian reference

Byling

Old Swedish slang for patrolling officers. The word is of uncertain origins and rarely used nowadays. Svenska Akademiens ordbok

C

Campo

(Pronounced Cam-poe) Is a term used to describe Police/Peace officers whose jurisdiction is a university/college. It is a combination of the title Campus Police. Campo can be used in admiration or as an insult depending on the context. Most commonly used in North America.

Cana

Brazilian slang for policeman.

Cappello/Capèo

Used in north eastern Italy to refer to an officer in any of the various forces. Cappello means 'hat' (capèo meaning the same in the dialects in that area) and refers to the fact that officers wear distinctive headgear. It is used in a mildly derogatory way.

Cinder Dick

An old term for railroad police detective, derived from the detective having to walk on the railroad ballast rock, also known as "cinders".

City Kitty

local police, such as a city or township.

City Pigs

Used by the Zodiac Killer in regard to the police around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cherry Toppers, Cherry Tops, or Cherries

Often used in reference to police cars which in some nations bear red lights on the top of the car. See Cherry top (slang).

Chickens

Name used for police agents in the Netherlands.

Chimps

UK slang term for Community police officers, Acronym for Completely Hopeless In Most Policing Situations

La Chonta

Mexican and Central American term, translates roughly to "the jerk-offs"

Chota or La Chota

Often used by residents of South Texas cities, most commonly in Laredo, Texas.

Collar

American and British slang for when an officer catches or apprehends a suspect (collared/having your collar felt). Also used in bravado between officers 'good collar' meaning good arrest or stop.

Constable

A police officer (male or female) in the United Kingdom and many other Commonwealth countries

Cop or Copper

While commonly believed to be an acronym for Constable On Patrol, the term refers to "one who captures or snatches". This word first appeared in the early 18th century, and can be matched with the word "cap", which has the same meaning and whose etymology can be traced to the Latin word 'capere'. (The word retains this meaning in other contexts: teenagers "cop a feel" on a date, and they have also been known to "cop an attitude".) Variation: Copper. It is also believed that the term Copper was the original, unshortened word, popularly believed to represent the copper badges American officers used to wear at the time of origin, but in fact probably used in Britain to mean "someone who cops" long before this. It is also believed to come from the Latin word 'Corpore' meaning body, i.e. a body of men.

Copcycles

A slang term for police officers on bicycles.

Cossa

Sinhala. pronounced 'Cos-sa', Derived from 'Constable' or its localized version 'Costha-pal'.

County Brownie

A slang term for a county officer because of their brown uniforms and cars.

County Mountie

Term for the county sheriff and deputies.

Cozzers

A term used in Great Britain in order to describe or talk about police officers.

Crackers

A slang term for the police in Florida especially in south Florida

Crimefighter

Term for a policeman on a particular crime fighting spree.

Crusher

Of unknown origin but may have come from the nickname used for the Royal Navy Regulating Branch.

Cuntstubble

Over emphasising of the Police rank "Constable".

Cheese Van

Out dated South African slang for Police Vehicles, based on the vehicles being bright yellow.

D

D (plural "D's")

(Australia) - presumably short for "detective".

Demon (plural Demons)

(New Zealand) - A term to describe police "detectives".

Dibble or The Dibble

Arises from the police officer in the Hanna-Barbera animated programme Top Cat. Most commonly used in Manchester.

Dicks

Slang for detectives. Apparently originally coined in Canada and brought south by rumrunners during Prohibition. The fictional comic strip character Dick Tracy was given the first name of "Dick" in token of its being a slang expression for "detective."

Do-do nutters or The Do-dos

Arises from the stereotype of police officers eating donuts.

Dogs

used in many European languages as an insulting term for police similar to pig in English

DRC or The DRC

Dirty Rotten Cop(per).

Ducks and Geese

Cockney rhyming slang for police.

Doughnut Patrol

Derived from the video game "Godfather 2".

Doughnut Shop

Because the stereotypical cop will be seen eating doughnuts.

E

Ecilop

Australia British for police reversed as seen through rear vision mirror. Motorway (freeway) patrol cars have police written backwards on the front - so it can be read normally in a rear view mirror.

Evel Knievel

Used by Australian truck drivers to describe police motorcyclists; from famed stunt rider Evel Knievel. Motorcycle cop as described by Jerry Reed in the movie Smokey & The Bandit.

F

Fakabát

Wooden coat Hungarian slang. After the wooden guard posts placed on street corners.

Farbror Blå

Uncle Blue Swedish slang, blue due to their appearance (color of their uniform). The nickname originates from the children's book "Aunt Green, Aunt Brown and Aunt Lavender", by Elsa Beskow, where "Uncle Blue" is one of the characters.

Feds

Usually used in the United States to refer to higher federal law enforcement agencies, especially the F.B.I.

Federali

see Feds

Feebs

Often used derogatorily in the United States by municipal and state officers to refer the F.B.I. when they feel a possible jurisdictional confrontation.

Filth

Because police are called filth. A widespread term used in several countries, is often considered to be popular in Greater London.

(Name of city)'s Finest

Used in either admiration, or slightly derisive irony, in the United States. In New York City, the term has been adapted to other civil servants, such as "New York's Bravest" (the Fire Department), "New York's Strongest" (the Department of Sanitation), and "New York's Boldest" (the Department of Correction).

First Bunch of Idiots

Referring to the F.B.I., the federal law enforcement arm of the United States.

Five-0

used to indicate a police officer, Probably a reference to the TV show Hawaii Five-o

Flatfoot

A term that refers to the large amount of walking that a police officer would do, thus causing flat feet.

Flat Top

A term for a police car without lights on top.

Flic

French slang for a policeman. Commonly used in the form les flics (sometimes, ungrammatically, les flic).

Fruko

Turkish slang term for the police. Usage of this term reached its peak in the 60's and 70's among the university youth, especially those with a left-wing tendency or those otherwise inclined to partake in political demonstrations. The term is believed to derive from the pop brand Fruko, as the officers of Toplum Polisi (Community Police - a special police unit formed in 1965 to deal with public demonstrations and other politically influenced incidents -) riding on their vans in groups of 6 or more wearing their oval hard hats resembled pop bottles juxtaposed in a bottle container. (Plural: Frukolar)

Folks or Tha Folks

Southern Louisiana, rarely used.

Fuzz

This North American term first appeared in the 1920s and gained popularity in the 1930s. This slang term may be in reference to the sound of the field radios that police commonly use. It surfaced in Britain in the 1960s. The term was used in the title Hot Fuzz, a 2007 police-comedy film.

Fuzzy Muff

Similar to the Fuzz, popularized by the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen in the Ali G show.

G

G-Man

US, slang, for Federal Bureau of Investigation, or "government men." Now used to refer to all law enforcement.

The Gaver or Gavvers

Alternatively Cockney rhyming slang for the police—unknown origin—London, or a Romani language word for the police. (Rom words are used in British English and Cockney.)

Grass

Cockney (English) for a police informant: Grasshopper = Copper. An alternative suggestion is "Narc in the Park"

Ghoptay

(Nepali language) As front hard part of the police peak cap is faced down, people would say Oi Ghoptay aayo, luka luka, meaning "hey cop is coming, hide it hide it" or simply Oi Ghoptay! Ghoptay! ("Hey cop! cop!"). The term is popular with teenagers and middle aged people but not with older people.

The Good Guys

US? A reference that the police act against criminality.

Gravel Road Cops or Grid Road Cops

Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police "GRC" is abbreviation for "Gendarmerie Royale du Canada" French name for RCMP, who often work in rural settings with un-metalled roads.

The Germans

UK. Particularly Northern England.

Grouper Trooper

US, slang, an officer of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

The Guards

Irish Police, from Garda Síochána; (Garda Síochána na hÉireann - Irish for "Guard(ians) of the Peace of Ireland").

Gumshoe

US, derogatory, slang for detectives.

Gumball Machine

US, slang for a police car.

H

Harness Bull

American; a uniformed police officer. (Example: ...a large harness bull arrived in his archaic blue uniform with gun and star. (Philip K Dick, from Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, 1968)

The Heat

American; putting the heat on someone. (Example: in the line What a field day for the heat (Stephen Stills, "For What It's Worth" from Buffalo Springfield, 1967), Stills is referring to the police.)

Heavy or Heavies

Cockney rhyming slang for the Flying Squad, from the Heavy Mob, (see also Sweeney).

Hi-Po

American abbreviated slang referring to the Highway Patrol.

Hobby-Bobby

Used in England to refer to Special Constables, who work for the police, wear similar uniforms, and have full police powers. The nickname implies such people are working as police officers as a hobby or pastime.

The Hook

American: Refers to the hook used in cartoons to snatch someone from a stage.

Horseman

A Canadian term referring to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Variation: Mounties.

Hot Dogs

a Chinese term referring to stationary traffic cops and guards who are standing in the sun all day.

I

Irish Mafia

Slang for New York Police Department, traditionally staffed largely by Irish-Americans.

J

Bacon sandwich, or Jam sandwich [or Jam Sambo]

UK, police traffic car, from the now largely obsolete historical colour-scheme - an overall white vehicle, with a longitudinal red, or red and yellow, stripe on each side. "Sambo" is a slang for sandwich. (Though this colour-scheme is dated. Most services have moved, or are in the process of moving, to a checkered Battenburg markings.)

Jacks

A common term used for police in the UK and Australia, derived from "John Darme" a joking Anglicization of "gendarme" (French for police officer) and then - per common usage - John becomes Jack (or, in this case, the plural "Jacks").

Jake

A common term used and created in New York City, New York.

John Q. Law or Johnny Law

Used across the United States. Sometimes shortened to John or Johnny.

Johnny Hopper

Cockney rhyming slang for copper (q.v.)

Jundanares, Jundos

Caló (gyspy) for Spanish Guardia Civil

K

Kesta

Finnish, derogatory. From the German "Gestapo".

Keuf

French, slang, of uncertain origin (one meaning is given as being "flic" in reverse)

Khaki Kutta

India, derogatory, of police constables. Translates as Brown, or Khaki, Dog, from the colour of their uniform, which resembles the colour of feral dogs. Often used for crooked officers.

Kiberer

(sometimes Kiwerer) Austrian, esp. Viennese derogatory slang for police officers, or police in general ("Kiberei"). Most likely of yiddish origin, either "kewjus" (security) or "kiben" (to rant).

Krawężnik

Polish, from "curb", designating an officer patrolling the neighbourhood on foot.

Kyttä

Finnish, derogatory, of police officers. Translates as someone snooping, staring or ogling.

L

Labdick

Edinburgh, UK slang for policeman. Contraction of "Lothian And Borders" (regional police force) + dick.

Law or The Law

Probably an abbreviation of the phrase "The long arm of the law" (suggesting that no matter how far they run, all criminals are eventually caught and prosecuted successfully).

Laws

A term originated in Houston, Texas.

La Madama

Italian slang for police.

Lazies

Term used for police, but more often used for off-duty police officers.

LEO

International, acronym for "Law Enforcement Officer". A generalized term for police officers.

Lump

A Greek slang. Refers to a police car, because of their roof beacons (Greek Police cars don't have light bars).

Legawye (pl)

Russian Легавые sg Легавый. Literally "hounting dog".

Lids

A British term used in the police force to refer to uniformed officers, owing to their distinctive helmets.

Little Bears

Term used for local police of a city or town.

M

Madero

Spain, slang, derogatory for police officers (plural: los maderos, la madera)

Maison poulaga

French, slang, derogatory, of police officers and police stations. Means roughly "henhouse".

Mama (Maman in the south)

Indian. Derogatory. Hindi (Malayalam in south) word which means uncle. Sarcastic reference to a policeman.

Manaek

Israel, mostly for the Military Policemen.

Mata

Singapore. Malay word for eye.

The Man

English language, hippy slang, popular during the 1960s and 1970s during the anti-establishment and anti-authoritarian movements. Implies that police are a tool of the powerful "man" that is trying to keep others down.

Meat Wagon

UK. a police van

Meathead

Canadian. Military police, the term dates as far back as World War II, when other corps of the Canadian army also had "head" names. The name for the military police refers to perceived intellectual capacity. The Engineers were known as Thumper Heads, from a hand-held post driving tool called a thumper, and the Armoured corps as "Zipper Heads", from a helmet featuring a number of zippers to allow concurrent use of head phones.

Member

Canada. Internal slang, used in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to refer to fellow Mounties, in place of the usual "officer" or "constable" (or equivalent) in other police forces.

Ment

Russian (мент, pl menty менты). Origines of the word are the older Romanian border mounted guard part of uniform - the short windcoat named "ment".

Milico

Uruguay and Argentina. Coming from "militar", the Spanish word for military. Once police in those countries was a military institution, not a civil one.

Millicent

Nadsat slang for Policemen, derived from the Russian "Militsiya" (Used in A Clockwork Orange).

Mil'ton

(ru мильтон) rarely using in contemporary for militia men in Russia

Messing

Norwegian slang, the Norwegian word for "brass".

Monos

Spain, slang, derogatory, collective term in reference to the police officers' uniform

Mounties

Canada, coloquial, Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

The Mustached Pagoda

Canada, slang, originally coined in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A surrealist term summoning from such noted philosophers as AJ Ayer and Josiah Royce, intended as a confusing and somewhat ambiguous insult.

Mizzder Berllizeban Badger. ("Mr Policeman Badger")

UK, literary. The constable in the Rupert Bear stories by Mary Tourtel.

Mr. Plod, P.C. Plod or Plodder

UK, slang, literary, (also used in Australia) from the Noddy books by Enid Blyton, in which Mr. Plod was the village policeman. "Plod" has also commonly been used by the British police themselves, as has its (generally disparaging) female equivalent "plonk".

Muppet

acronym of Most Useless Police Person Ever Trained

Murija

A Serbo-croatian term for police, with a singular "murjak". True origin somewhat unknown.

Musora

in Russia plural unusing in other situations to "musor" (ru мусор) literally translated as "garbage". Origines - in obsolete abbreviation ru МУС (MUS) fully Московский уголовный сыск (Moskowskii ugolownyi sysk, Moskow criminal investigatings)

N

Narc

US, abbreviated form of "Narcotics Agent"; not to be confused with Copper's Nark a term used in Great Britain for an informant.

Nab Jones

Southern United States term for traffic police.

Nickers, Nicknicks

UK, uncommon British terms, being a pun on "knickers" (female underwear). As the term is spoken not written the silent "k" in knickers is not obvious. Derives from officers "nicking" a suspect, i.e. arresting them, and taking them to "the nick" i.e. the police station.

Night Jack

English police slang for a detective working night shift. Jack referring to the detective.

Nine

Used mainly in south Florida to describe officers. Called nine because they are said to come in packs, such as nine at a time

O

O-Po-Po

A term used in Ontario, Canada to describe the Ontario Provincial Police.

Old Bill

A term in use in London among other areas, inspiring the television series The Bill. The origin of this nickname is obscure; according to the Metropolitan Police themselves, there are at least 13 different explanations.

One Time

A term, mostly used on the U.S. West Coast, that has been given numerous explanations, including: the idea that if one is arrested, it only takes "one time" to be put away (convicted); and that looking at police officers "one time" is enough to garner their attention and invite harassment.

Other People

Used in J.J. Connolly's Layer Cake to refer to the police.

P

Paco

A derogatory Chilean term for Carabineros, the national police force of Chile. In Costa Rica, a familiar term for police, loosely derogatory. The term comes from the nickname 'Paco' given to Francisco Calderón, a Security Minister in the 1940s.

Pandu

Indian constabulary (and not officers) were recruited mostly from village areas. Derived from popular Marathi movie 'Pandu Hawaldar' where the protagonist is a constable named as Pandu.

Pandur

Serbian derogatory term for a police officer. In its origin, it was the Pandurs, who served as the watchmen on the Austrian Military frontier.

Panser

Danish slang for a police officer. Widely used as a negative reference to the police in Denmark. Literally translated to the English word "panzer"

Paskalakki

Finnish, derogatory. Literally means "hat (full) of shit".

Pasma

Spain, slang, derogatory term for police

Pedal Bacon

UK, Police on Bicycles.

Peeler, Peelers

UK, slang, archaic, from Sir Robert Peel (see 'Bobby'); it has largely disappeared in Britain, is sometimes used in Northern Ireland. Canada, coloquial, refers to Peel Regional Police Service in Ontario, Canada. Considered derogatory as "peeler" is slang for a striptease dancer.

Penelope's

US. A slang word for the police term coined by the San Francisco Bay Area rap artist E-40.

Pig

This derogatory term was widespread during the 19th century, disappeared for a while, but reappeared during the 20th and 21st century. It became especially popular during the 1960s and 1970s in the underground hippie and anti-establishment culture. Now prevalent in many English-speaking countries. It has also been used in anti-authoritarian punk and gangsta rap circles. Oz magazine showed a picture of a pig dressed as a policeman on a front cover.

Plain Brown Wrapper

Most commonly used by truck drivers over the CB radio, in reference to unmarked vehicles and plainclothes police officers, usually of local or state jurisdictions.

Pigtail

A slang term used when a police officer stops you or picks you up. "I picked up a pigtail"

Plastics

Colloquial term used by Australian state police to refer to the Australian Federal Police.

Plod

An allusion to Mr Plod the Policeman in Enid Blyton's Noddy stories for children, to plod meaning to walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps. Also known as "PC Plod".

Plonk

Police slang for female officer

The Poison

Obscure term for police.

Po-key

Slang term for police officer.

Police Officer

a policeman or policewoman, Euphemism used widely for any such person regardless of whether the individual holds any office.

Polis

With a long 'o' and a short 'i', pronunciation used in Scotland. (coincidentally, this is the Bahasa Melayu spelling of 'police')

Politzai

(ru pl полицаи sg полицай) - in Russia after renaming Militia to Police (ru Полиция Politzia) in March 2011. Origines - collaborationists regular troops on territories occupied by Nazi what Sowiet people called "полицаи" (Politzai, by German word "Polizei").

Po-po or Po

A term used commonly by North American youth and rap artists.

Porky or Porker

From the Porky Pig cartoon and variation on "pig", usually specific to small town officers embodying the doughnut stereotype, "porker" variant may relate to "copper".

Poulet

French, translates as "chicken", derogatory. As in, Q: What do you get when the police station catches fire? A: "poulet rôti" (roast chicken).

Prahare

Nepalese for police

Psy

Polish for "dogs", singular - "pies", squad cars or police vans are often called "suki", which means "bitches", singular - "suka", because there are dogs inside.

Puerco

Mexican, derogatory, slang. Spanish for pig.

Purk

Norwegian, derogatory, Norwegian for "sow".

La Pula

Italian and Italian-American slang. Shortened form of polizia.

PC

Abbreviation of the rank "Police Constable". Also used by the Ontario Provincial Police to abbreviate "Provincial Constable".

Constable is used in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, & most other ex-British Empire countries.

PW

Police Woman. Sometimes considered derogatory or merely impolite. See also WPC

Q

Queen's Cowboys

Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Queen's Men

R

Rashers

British slang derived from pigs.

Ratazanas (plural)

Used in Portuguese language for police officers, meaning rats.

RC's

Short for RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police).

Rez Cop

Derogatory term to describe a Police/Peace Officer employed on or for an Indian Reservation/First Nations or Tribal Police. It erroneously implies they have less value and/or authorities than "off rez" police. To self describe as a "rez cop" would be to vulgarly separate oneself from other police services

Rollers

An American term believed to have originated in the San Francisco Bay Area. Also a connection for when police car lights are turned on because they roll in circles.

Raddies

UK

Rozzers

UK

S

Sbirro

Italian slang for policeman.

Scuffers

An old Liverpudlian term, which came to prominence in the 1960s Merseyside-set BBC television series Z-Cars.

Schmig(s), Schmigglers

A variation on Pig, originated in Minneapolis, Minnesota in the early 1980s.

Schmitt

Used in France, origin unknown (possibly based on German).

Scum

Used across Britain, as an insult to say that the police are lower than the criminals.

Shades

Used in Ireland, from plainclothes Gardaí detectives from the 1970s who were recognisable as they often wore sunglasses. Common in Limerick.

Skowtu

Used in the Netherlands, origin from Suriname, which used to be part of the Netherlands.

Slaktarbussen

Swedish slang for police van, usually referred to riot police vans. Literally "Butchers van" .

Smokey

A term from the CB Radio fad of the 1970s. See "Bear", above. Smokey Bears are usually those that belong to a Highway Patrol or State Police agency in the United States.

Smurfs

Used in Greece and Poland. Because the blue colour of police uniforms is like the old National Benzole advertising characters, the Smurfs.

Snippers

An African-American term used mostly in North America.

Snut

A slang used in Norway and Sweden, coming from "snute" which is "nose on a dog" describing that the police "sniffs"

Soggies

Australian term for officers of the Special Operations Group.

Squealers

A reference to the noise a pig makes. In the UK, squealer, or grass, is used to denote someone who informs on their criminal confederates.

Staff

Usually measuring around 20 inches in length a 'staff' was a wooden stick, commonly known as a truncheon, widely issued to police officers up until the early 1990s. Staffs were carried by all police officers and were placed in a special pocket of the trousers. Truncheons usually were made from strong wood and were stained and polished. A shorter staff was issued to female police officers so that it could be carried in their handbag.

Eventually superseded by the introduction of side-handle batons, Asps (collapsible coiled-spring batons), and pepper or CS spray-cans.

State boy

A US state trooper. Usually used in the midwest.

Staties

Refers to State Troopers, used throughout New England

Strisser

Danish slang

Strømer

Danish slang

Suicide by Cop

American. Occurs when a suspect behaves in a manner that provokes or compels the police kill him, such as by holding hostages or threatening officers or civilians with a weapon.

Suits

Members of the Metropolitan Police CID as referred to by their uniformed colleagues.

Super Troopers

Became a common name in Vermont for police in that state after the release of the movie Super Troopers.

Sün

Hedgehog Hungarian slang, during the 2009 protest against the Hungarian Government, policemen used a formation called hedgehog (sün in Hungarian). This comical situation became a widespread meme in the country and eventually policemen were given the name "sün".

Sweeney

Cockney rhyming slang for the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad, from Sweeney Todd, inspiring the television series The Sweeney, (see also Heavy).

Swine

Comes from pig (see above).

T

The Thin Blue Line

Used to describe the role of the police in being the barrier between civilized society and chaos, inspiring a UK TV sitcom and 2 documentaries of the same name. This led to policemen involved in entrapping gays being ironically described as "The Thin Blue Jeans".

Thulla

Northern-Indian/Pakistani Hindi/Urdu term for a cop with a baton (known locally as a "laathi")

Tinned Pig

derogatory term in some areas of southern England to refer to police in police cars.

Tira

Mexican slang for police car or policeman

Tira

Brazilian slang for policeman

Tit-Heads or Tits

Rarely used derogative British term for uniformed police officers originating in the shape of traditional UK police custodian helmet worn by patrolling (male) officers which are or were a similar shape to a large female breast - as in the phrase (to a policeman) "take the tit off your head" meaning "relax" or "imagine you are not on duty".

Tombo

Largely used in Perú, and in some parts of Colombia to call police officers. Etymological origin its based in an inversion of the Spanish word for button. In the early twentieth century the uniforms of the Peruvian police officers had very big buttons. The word is "botón" in Spanish. The thiefs inverted the word "Ton-bo". You could see that the inversion is "Tonbo", with an "n", and not "tombo" with "m", but in Spanish an "n" cannot precede a "b".

Troll

A term coined in South Florida (Palm Beach County). Made famous by the song "Troll Down".

Txacurra

Dog in Basque referring to police officers, similar to the use of 'dog' in English.

Twig Pig

Forest Ranger/Woods Cop

Twinrova

Rarely used in reference to police cars bearing red and blue lights on top of the car (only in Victoria, Australia and Los Angeles, California).

Tyre Biters

A term typically used for country police officers because of their habit of being involved with frequent car chases.

Them, The Useless, The twits requiring contact with a judge prior.

" T and T" also known as "Tuesdays and Thursday" law enforcers usually are more likely to make arrest on these days, because these days are either in the beginning of the week and toward the end.

U

Uniform

A term used originally used by non-uniformed officers (detectives) for officers in uniform.

Untouchables

A term often used in Scotland for a mobile squad of uniformed Police, term originates from the 1960s US TV series.

Utzer

German, slang, used e.g. in Upper Franconia, literally means "teaser"

Unipo

Short for University Police, used as a derogatory term towards campus police in some areas of the US

V

Vultures

as the way vultures pull meat between each other.

W

Wallopers

Australian, from "wallop", meaning to hit or beat.

Whoop-Whoop

US, slang, from the Southern States & New York City, in reference to a patrol car's siren.

Woodentops

UK, derogatory, used by plain-clothes officers in reference to the uniformed branch. Possibly a reference to the 1950s children's TV series The Woodentops, declining use.

Woolly-backs

UK, derogatory, used by plain-clothes officers in reference to the uniformed branch.

Wasps

UK, derogatory, from the recent adoption of Safety Yellow jackets by various Constabularies for uniformed officers in various roles, &, as with Bluebottles, from the 'swarming' of officers at an incident.

X

Xanos profanos Midnortheastern Ohio slang referring to the derogatory nature of law enforcement.

Y

Yippes

Z

Zsaru, zsernyák, zsandár

Hungarian slang. From the French gendarmerie.

Zebra

US. Reference to the black and white color of police vehicles.

Zetas

Spain. Reference to the Citroën ZX, in common use by Police patrol units in Spain in the 1980's and 1990's

External links

• Metropolitan Police - Origins of the name "Old Bill".