Definition of "gendarme"

The US is tempted to play the role of global gendarme because everyone knows that the UN, as it is, lacks the resources and capacity to fill this role.

2003, Daniele Archibugi, Mathias Koenig-Archibugi, Debating Cosmopolitics, Verso, page 170

The previous attempts foundered when they tried to take this gendarme directly.

1979, Chris Jones, Climbing in North America, page 118

The Arete starts easily, with several beautiful, loping pitches leading to a striking gendarme.

1998, Climbing - Issues 178-180, page 64

Continuing to the main summit involves ascents of the gendarmes (the first being the owl-eared one referred to in the next route description) and 140-foot rappels down their south sides.

2013, Joe Kelsey, Climbing and Hiking in the Wind River Mountains, page 259