rent-a-cop

English

Etymology

From rent +‎ a +‎ cop, modelled after the brand name Rent-a-Car.

Noun

rent-a-cop (plural rent-a-cops)

  1. (colloquial, derogatory) A private security guard, usually one regarded as inferior to and less skilled than a true law enforcement officer.
    • 1984, William Gibson, Neuromancer (Sprawl; book 1), New York, N.Y.: Ace Books, →ISBN, page 24:
      “What got into you tonight? Why'd you pull that scene at the arcade? I had to mess up this rentacop[sic] came after me with nunchucks.”

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