patrol

[ puh-trohl ]

verb (used without object)

, pa·trolled, pa·trol·ling.

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)

, pa·trolled, pa·trol·ling.

1. to maintain the order and security of (a road, beat, area, etc.) by passing along or through it.

noun

1. a person or group of persons assigned to patrol an area, road, etc.
2. an automobile, ship, plane, squadron, fleet, etc., assigned to patrol an area.
3. Military. a detachment of two or more persons, often a squad or platoon, detailed for reconnaissance or combat.
4. the act of patrolling.
5. patrol wagon.
6. (in the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts) a subdivision of a troop, usually consisting of about eight members.

patrol

/ pəˈtrəʊl /

noun

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

verb

1. to engage in a patrol of (a place)

Derived Forms

• paˈtroller, noun

Other Words From

• pa·troller noun
• repa·trol verb (used with object) repatrolled repatrolling
• unpa·trolled adjective
• well-pa·trolled adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrol¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of patrol¹

C17: from French patrouiller, from patouiller to flounder in mud, from patte paw

Example Sentences

The force said additional neighbourhood officer patrols will be seen in Corby in the coming days to reassure the public.

From BBC

Poland, Ukraine's neighbour to the west, scrambled fighter jets to patrol its own airspace as a security precaution, Poland's Operational Command said.

From BBC

Secret Service agents at Mar-a-Lago have been seen patrolling alongside Spot.

From BBC

The Afghan smuggler says he hides migrants near the border wall, and then they wait until there’s less patrolling of a portion of the border wall to take a shot at the “game”.

From BBC

He said there was a dedicated team working with businesses and that police carried out regular patrols.

From BBC

Related Words

• cruise
• inspect
• safeguard