Emily Dickinson Lexicon

PO-LICE, n. [Fr. from L. politia; Gr. πολιτεια, from πολις, city.]

1. The government of a city or town; the administration of the laws and regulations of a city or incorporated town or borough; as, the police of London, of New York or Boston. The word is applied also to the government of all towns in New England which are made corporations by a general statute, for certain purposes.
2. The internal regulation and government of a kingdom or state. – Blackstone.
3. The corporation or body of men governing a city. – Jamieson.
4. In Scottish, the pleasure-ground about a gentleman's seat.