Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
 
Help
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

PLATOON

 - 3 dictionary results
"Platoon" (1986) DVD
Vietnam War drama. Charlie Sheen. 1000s of titles not found elsewhere
MoviesUnlimited.com
Platoon at Amazon
Save up to 35% on top sellers. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/dvd

pla⋅toon

  [pluh-toon]
Use PLATOON in a Sentence
–noun
1. a military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.
2. a small unit of a police force.
3. a company or group of persons: a platoon of visitors.
4. Football. a group of players specially trained in one aspect of the game, as offense or defense, and used as a unit: a halfback on the offensive platoon.
–verb (used with object)
5. Sports.
a. to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.
b. to alternate (two different teams or units), as separate offensive and defensive squads.
–verb (used without object)
6. Sports.
a. to alternate at a position with another player or players.
b. to use players alternately at the same position.
c. to alternate different teams.
Origin:
1630–40; earlier plotton < F peloton little ball, group, platoon, dim. of pelote ball. See pellet, -oon
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To PLATOON
"Platoon" (1986) DVD
Vietnam War drama. Charlie Sheen. 1000s of titles not found elsewhere
MoviesUnlimited.com
Platoon at Amazon
Save up to 35% on top sellers. Qualified orders over $25 ship free
Amazon.com/dvd
pla·toon   (plə-tōōn')   
n.  

  1. A subdivision of a company of troops consisting of two or more squads or sections and usually commanded by a lieutenant.

  2. A group of people working, traveling, or assembled together: a platoon of firefighters; buses carrying platoons of tourists.

  3. Sports A group of players within a team, especially a football team, that is trained and sent into or withdrawn from play as a unit: the defensive platoon.

v.   pla·tooned, pla·toon·ing, pla·toons Sports

v.   tr.
To play (a player) in alternation with another player in the same position: platooned the two catchers.
v.   intr.

  1. To use alternate players at the same position.

  2. To take turns playing a position with another player.


[French peloton, from Old French, diminutive of pelote, ball; see pellet.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

platoon 
1637, from Fr. peloton "platoon, group of people" (15c.), from M.Fr. peloton, lit. "little ball," hence, "agglomeration," dim. of O.Fr. pelote "ball" (see pellet). The verb, in baseball, "to alternate (a player) with another in the same position" is attested from 1967.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Search another word or see PLATOON on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way