militia

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the entire body of physically fit civilians eligible by law for military service

   their troops were untrained militia

2. 2
   noun

   An army of trained civilians, which may be an official reserve army, called upon in time of need, the entire able-bodied population of a state which may also be called upon, or a private force not under government control.

   He coasts down to a dead stop in the middle of the channel, makes a scan for militia men and wireheads, and finds none.

3. 3
   noun

   civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army

4. 4
   noun

   Synonym of militsia: the national police force of certain countries (e.g. Belarus).

Etymology

From Latin mīlitia (“army, military force/service”), from mīles (“soldier”). Doublet of militsia. The use of "militia" rather than "police" to refer to the police force (of Belarus and some other countries) originated in the USSR.