cop (v.)

“抓住, 抓住, 捕获, 俘虏或逮捕为囚犯”, 1704年, 英国北部方言, 来源不明; 也许最终来自法语 caper “抓住, 夺取”, 来自拉丁语 capere “夺取” (来自PIE根 *kap- “抓住” ); 或来自荷兰语 kapen “夺取”, 来自古弗里斯兰语 capia “购买”, 与古英语 ceapian 有关(见 cheap). 相关: Copped; copping.

“警察”, 1859年, 是早期 copper (n. 2) 的缩写(据说最初是小偷的俚语), 它的考证时间是1846年, 代理名词来自 cop (v.) “抓捕或逮捕为囚犯”. Cop-shop “警察局” 的证明来自1941年. 儿童游戏 cops and robbers, 考证自1900年.

Each child in Heaven's playground knows each other child by name.

They choose up sides as all take part in some exciting game

Like Hide=and=Seek, Red Rover, Cops and Robbers, Pris'ner's Base.

Our Lord is glad to referee their every game and race.

[John Bernard Kelly, “Heaven is a Circus,” 1900]

英语中有许多名词cop, 有些是古旧的或过时的, 许多名词与古英语cop“top, summit” 有或多或少的联系, 这与 cup (n.) 的来源有关.