Prisoner of war
Prisoner of War
A Prisoner of War (POW) is a term used in international law to describe a person, whether civilian or military, who is held in custody by a belligerent power during or immediately after an armed conflict. The term is used to denote individuals captured by an enemy power during a time of war.
Pronunciation
- /ˈprɪz(ə)nər ɒv wɔː/
Etymology
The term "Prisoner of War" originates from the late 14th century, from the Old French prisonier and the Latin prisionem meaning "captivity, condition of a captive". The term "war" comes from the Old English wyrre and the Germanic werra meaning "strife, confusion".
Related Terms
- War crime: Serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in international armed conflict and in conflicts "not of an international character" listed in the Geneva Conventions.
- Geneva Conventions: Four treaties, and three additional protocols, that establish the standards of international law for humanitarian treatment in war.
- Combatant: An individual who directly engages in armed conflict as part of an army or other organized armed forces.
- Non-combatant: An individual who is not a member of the armed forces and does not take part in hostilities during a conflict.
- Internment: The imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Prisoner of war
- Wikipedia's article - Prisoner of war
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