rijkswacht

Dutch

Etymology

A Belgian Dutch neologism from 1932, derived from rijk (“realm”) +‎ wacht (“guard”), and coined as a translation of French gendarmerie.

Pronunciation

• Audio:

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Noun

rijkswacht f (plural rijkswachten, diminutive rijkswachtje n)

1. a (former) Belgian military body charged with police duties among the civilian population, the Belgian Dutch / Flemish gendarmerie

   Coordinate term: marechaussee (Netherlands)

Derived terms

• rijkswachter