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
A subdivision of a company of troops consisting of two or more squads or sections and usually commanded by a lieutenant.
A group of people working, traveling, or assembled together: a platoon of firefighters; buses carrying platoons of tourists.
Sports A group of players within a team, especially a football team, that is trained and sent into or withdrawn from play as a unit: the defensive platoon.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·toonsSports
v.
tr. To play (a player) in alternation with another player in the same position: platooned the two catchers. v.
intr.
To use alternate players at the same position.
To take turns playing a position with another player.
[French peloton, from Old French, diminutive of pelote, ball; see pellet.]
[pluh-toon] 
