patrol

views updated May 18 2018

pa·trol / pəˈtrōl/ • n. a person or group of people sent to keep watch over an area, esp. a detachment of guards or police: a police patrol stopped the man and searched him. ∎  the action of keeping watch over an area by walking or driving around it at regular intervals: the policemen were on patrol when they were ordered to investigate the incident. ∎  an expedition to carry out reconnaissance: we were ordered to investigate on a night patrol. ∎  a detachment of troops sent out to reconnoiter: you couldn't go through the country without meeting an enemy patrol. ∎  a routine operational voyage of a ship or aircraft: a submarine patrol. ∎  a unit of six to eight Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts forming part of a troop.• v. (-trolled, -trol·ling) [tr.] keep watch over (an area) by regularly walking or traveling around or through it: the garrison had to patrol the streets to maintain order | [intr.] pairs of men were patrolling on each side of the thoroughfare. DERIVATIVES: pa·trol·ler n.

patrol

views updated May 14 2018

patrol going the rounds of a camp, etc.; person or body that does this. XVII. — G. patro(ui)lle — F. patrouille, f. patrouiller (whence ult. patrol vb. XVII), alt. of patouiller paddle about in mud, f. patte paw, foot.

Patrol

views updated May 23 2018

Patrol

detachment of troops or police. See also guard.

Examples : patrol of cavalry, 1827; of soldiers, 1670.