Which of the following is a popular nickname for a police officer in the US?

Numerous slang terms exist for the police. Many slang terms for police officers are decades or centuries old with lost etymologies. One of the oldest, 'cop', has largely lost its slang connotations and become a common colloquial term used both by the public and police officers to refer to their profession.

The word "cop" is derived from the verb sense "to arrest". Thus, "someone who captures", a "copper", was shortened to just "cop". It may also find its origin in the Latin 'capere', brought to English via the Old French caper.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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49 Comments

Russ Dobell

The question and answer are correct. However there are other explanations for the origin of the term, such as police badges were made of copper metal being the most common I have always heard, also that cop is a shortened version of the old term constable on patrol. Of course I have also heard a cop called the fuzz, Five-0, or the Man, and of course pig. I can't give a reference source to cite, I just know those because I was one for many years.

Ray Anderson

Cop was a nickname for the Peelers - Robert Peel's original London police force. It came from the copper badges that the police wore.

Leapy Lee

Robert Goyne, and others …..for all those who are horrified that all Australians refer to our police as “pigs”, rest assured the vast majority of us do not! Usually we would say “coppers”.

Irene Townsend

The term comes from England and the first Police, which was organized by Robert Peel, Originally they were called Bobby's after Robert Peel, then the people started calling them, 'Coppers' as the badge was copper and seen especially at night, as time goes on it was eventual just 'cops'

cjsrobertson

Robert, no you are not, unfortunately it is also used in the USA. Being a law enforcement agent is not a profession I would recommend this day in time in this country.

Patricia Cairns

Growing up in the UK, in the 1950s, I was taught that the word cop was an abbreviation of the term Constable on Patrol.

Robert Oldenburg

And the police station is the cop shop.

jakeckettmann

Sorry, Aussies think the word 'cop' is just a Constable On Patrol, COP... simple, eh!

Susan Madanat

cjsrobertson, Your sentiment will apply to any public serving role. Decency needs to be protected and that is first learned at home and then school. However parents and schools are now at risk of being sued if they try any disciplinary action.

davidmidgley

Cop = Constable On Patrol

Mike Robertson

I thought it was short for Constable on Patrol.

brugreg

Cop is abbreviated for constable on patrol

Rolfey

I was always led to believe that Robert Peel had ginger (or copper) coloured hair.

imcrzymry

now they are called "popo" back in the 70's they were called "pigs" and when they drove by kids would yell "I smell bacon" in reference to a pig

Florence McKenna Hiscock

Robert Goyne, It's used all too frequently here in the US. It is a derogatory term.

Rick Elsner

Isn't it Constable On Patrol

Irene Townsend

Suresh Kumar Rao, That's what I said. Just spelt it like a person's name. My mistake in my comment was the fact that the police were first called Peelers, then Bobbies, then Coppers