A British policeman is commonly referred to as a BOBBY, COPPER, PEELER, or EARL. The term BOBBY is derived from the name of Sir Robert Peel, who established the first modern police force in London in 1829. A COPPER is a slang term for a police officer, originating from the COPPER buttons on their uniforms. PEELER is another slang term for a police officer, originating from the name of Sir Robert Peel. EARL is an archaic term for a police officer, derived from the Old English word 'eorl', meaning 'NOBLEMAN'.