[Dumb_Ox]

I heard it's from the Greek "eis ten Boulen," To the City Council. Allegedly comes from a signpost outside of Constantinople.

[a_Turk]

I heard it's from the Greek "eis ten Boulen," To the City Council. Allegedly comes from a signpost outside of Constantinople

That's what I read too, with the minor variation in wording. Poli, Boulen, I don't know Greek, other than that Polis (police) means city.