noun, masculine/pœpl/plural: peuples
people (nation, distinct ethnic group); the people, the general population, the common folk
“le peuple élu” — the Chosen People
Inherited from Middle French peuple, from Old French pueple, semi-learned form of pueble, from earliest Old French poblo (9th c.), from Latin populus, from Proto-Italic *poplos (“army”). Doublet of people and pueblo.