patrol
Use Patrol in a sentence
verb (used without object)
1.
(of a police officer, soldier, etc.) to pass along a road, beat, etc., or around or through a specified area in order to maintain order and security.
verb (used with object)
2.
to maintain the order and security of (a road, beat, area, etc.) by passing along or through it.
Origin:
1655–65; < French patrouille (noun), patrouiller (v.) patrol, originally a pawing (noun), to paw (v.) in mud; derivative (with suffixal -ouille) of patte paw; -r- unexplained
1655–65; < French patrouille (noun), patrouiller (v.) patrol, originally a pawing (noun), to paw (v.) in mud; derivative (with suffixal -ouille) of patte paw; -r- unexplained
Related forms
pa·trol·ler, noun
re·pa·trol, verb (used with object), re·pa·trolled, re·pa·trol·ling.
un·pa·trolled, adjective
well-pa·trolled, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To patrol
00:10
Patrol
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is skedaddle. Does it mean:
| to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about. |
| to run away hurriedly; flee. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
patrol (pəˈtrəʊl) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the action of going through or around a town, neighbourhood, etc, at regular intervals for purposes of security or observation |
| 2. | a person or group that carries out such an action |
| 3. | a military detachment with the mission of security, gathering information, or combat with enemy forces |
| 4. | a division of a troop of Scouts or Guides |
| —vb , -trols, -trolling, -trolled | |
| 5. | to engage in a patrol of (a place) |
| [C17: from French patrouiller, from patouiller to flounder in mud, from patte paw] | |
| pa'troller | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
patrol
1664, "action of going the rounds" (of a military camp, etc.), from Fr. patrouille "a night watch" (1539), from patrouiller "go the rounds to watch or guard," originally "tramp through the mud," probably soldiers' slang, from O.Fr. patouiller "paddle in water," probably from pate "paw, foot" (see
patois). Compare paddlefoot, World War II U.S. Army slang for "infantry soldier." Meaning "those who go on a patrol" is from 1670. Sense of "detachment of soldiers sent out to scout the countryside, the enemy, etc." is attested from 1702. The verb first recorded 1691. Patrolman "police constable on a particular beat" is first recorded 1879, Amer.Eng.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Nearby Words
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