| Definitions | | patrol |
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noun (plural: patrols)
- (military) A going of the rounds along the chain of sentinels and between the posts, by a guard, usually consisting of three or four men, to insure greater security from attacks on the outposts.
- (military) A movement, by a small body of troops beyond the line of outposts, to explore the country and gain intelligence of the enemy's whereabouts.
- (military) The guard or men who go the rounds for observation; a detachment whose duty it is to patrol.
- Any perambulation of a particular line or district to guard it; also, the men thus guarding; as, a customs patrol; a fire patrol.
- In France there is an army of patrols to secure her fiscal regulations. -A. Hamilton.
verb (patrol, l, ing)
- (intransitive) To go the rounds along a chain of sentinels; to traverse a police district or beat.
- (transitive) To go the rounds of, as a sentry, guard, or policeman; as, to patrol a frontier; to patrol a beat.
Etymology: patrouiller, patrouiller to paddle, paw about, patrol, from patte a paw. patrouille, patouille.
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Full Definition of patrol
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