General
peeler
What does peeler mean?
An archaic word for a cop — same Robert Peel root as 'bobby', but older. Largely faded in England, but still kicking in Northern Ireland and parts of Ireland as everyday slang for the police.
"The peelers were all over the estate last night."
Origin
From Sir Robert Peel, who set up the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1822 before the Met in 1829.
Frequently asked questions
What does peeler mean?
Peeler is an old UK and Irish word for a police officer.
How do you use peeler in a sentence?
"The peelers turned up before we could clear off."
Where does the word peeler come from?
It derives from Sir Robert Peel, who founded the Metropolitan Police; his surname also gave us 'bobby'.
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