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commando
commando small, elite military raiding and assault unit or soldier. Although the word was coined in the Boer War (1899-1902), the role is as old as battles themselves. In 1940, when the British organized a number of such units, the term came into wide use. Made up of hand-picked volunteers, specifically trained for dangerous work, these units were employed in missions throughout World War II, including the raid on Field Marshal Rommel's headquarters (1941). The U.S. Army's Ranger battalions were also popularly called commandos. After World War II the British army's commandos were disbanded, but the British Royal Marine Commandos were employed in the Korean war and the Suez operation, and the elite Special Air Service has engaged in extensive action against the Irish Republican Army and other nonstate-sponsored commandos. The United States has active commando, or Special Operations, units, including the Navy Seals and the Army's Rangers, Green Berets (Special Forces), and Delta Force. Some of these forces were used in the Vietnam War , the Persian Gulf War , operations in Afghanistan (2001), and numerous counterinsurgency operations. Soviet commandos ( Spetsnaz ) fought in the Afghanistan War . Israel and Vietnam have particularly proficient commando units. Commandos today often use special weapons, such as satellite communications, silenced small arms, exotic explosives, and delicate sensors.
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"commando." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commando." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-commando.html "commando." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-commando.html |
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commando
commando a soldier specially trained for carrying out raids; a unit of such troops. The term is recorded from the late 18th century (denoting a militia, originally consisting of Boers in South Africa); it comes ultimately from Portuguese commandar ‘to command’.
go commando informal expression meaning, wear no underpants. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "commando." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "commando." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-commando.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "commando." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-commando.html |
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commando
com·man·do / kəˈmandō/ • n. (pl. -dos) a soldier specially trained to carry out raids. ∎ a unit of such troops. ∎ a group forming part of a larger organization, typically an illegal or secret one, and carrying out attacks on its behalf. |
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"commando." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commando." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-commando.html "commando." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-commando.html |
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Commando
Commando C-46 an aircraft originally designed for civil transport but built only for military use.
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"Commando." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Commando." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Commando.html "Commando." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-Commando.html |
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commando
commando n. pl. -os
1. a soldier specially trained to carry out raids: the commando unhooked a grenade from his belt. 2. a unit of such troops. 3. a group forming part of a larger organization, typically an illegal or secret one, and carrying out attacks on its behalf. |
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Cite this article
"commando." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commando." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-commando.html "commando." The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military. 2001. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O63-commando.html |
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commando
commando
•foreshadow, shadow
•Faldo
•accelerando, bandeau, Brando, glissando, Orlando
•eyeshadow
•aficionado, amontillado, avocado, Bardo, Barnardo, bastinado, bravado, Colorado, desperado, Dorado, eldorado, incommunicado, Leonardo, Mikado, muscovado, Prado, renegado, Ricardo, stifado
•commando
•eddo, Edo, meadow
•crescendo, diminuendo, innuendo, kendo
•carbonado, dado, Feydeau, gambado, Oviedo, Toledo, tornado
•aikido, bushido, credo, Guido, Ido, libido, lido, speedo, teredo, torpedo, tuxedo
•widow • dildo • window
•Dido, Fido, Hokkaido
•condo, rondeau, rondo, secondo, tondo
•Waldo
•dodo, Komodo, Quasimodo
•escudo, judo, ludo, pseudo, testudo, Trudeau
•weirdo • sourdough • fricandeau
•tournedos • Murdo
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Cite this article
"commando." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "commando." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-commando.html "commando." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-commando.html |
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