commando

[ kuh-man-doh, -mahn- ]

noun

, plural com·man·dos, com·man·does.

1. (in World War II )
   1. any of the specially trained Allied military units used for surprise, hit-and-run raids against Axis forces.
   2. a member of any of these units. Compare ranger ( def 3 ).
2. any military unit organized for operations similar to those of the commandos of World War II.
3. a member of a military assault unit or team trained to operate quickly and aggressively in especially urgent, threatening situations, as against terrorists holding hostages.

commando

/ kəˈmɑːndəʊ /

noun

1. 1. an amphibious military unit trained for raiding
   2. a member of such a unit
2. the basic unit of the Royal Marine Corps
3. (originally) an armed force raised by Boers during the Boer War
4. modifier denoting or relating to a commando or force of commandos

   a commando raid

   a commando unit

adverb

1. go commando informal.
   go commando to wear no underpants

Word History and Origins

Origin of commando¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Afrikaans kommando “raid, raiding party, a unit of militia,” from Portuguese commando “unit commanded,” noun derivative of commandar “to command ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of commando¹

C19: from Afrikaans kommando, from Dutch commando command, from French commander to command

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go commando, Slang. to wear pants, shorts, a skirt, etc., with no underwear.

Example Sentences

He added that it’s important to keep in mind that “this tech is there to enhance commando excellence, not to replace it.”

From Popular-Science

Authorities have said the assault was conducted by a team of “commandos.”

From Washington Post

These are just some of the remarkable stories of the secret commandos of X Troop.

From Time

Many commandos grappled with profound insecurities about whether they could be both British and Jewish.

From Time

Desperate to change the course of the war, Winston Churchill and his Chief of Combined Operations decide to create a commando unit of Jewish refugees.

From Time

Now the time for the bombing blitz and commando raids appears to be approaching.

From The Daily Beast

Andrey Donskoy is a musician and commando from Krasnoarmeysk, a town in the Donetsk region.

From The Daily Beast

He cannot walk independently—he uses a wheelchair or commando crawls.

From The Daily Beast

But the most talked-about reward is $10,000 for the capture of a Russian commando.

From The Daily Beast

A commando team, on the other hand, will always have to operate quickly to get in, and, it hopes, to get out.

From The Daily Beast

The Pretoria Commando had nearly shared this melancholy fate.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably also the British had some respect for the prowess of my commando.

From Project Gutenberg

Harber's burgher commando was present, but took no part in the operation.

From Project Gutenberg

My son is on commando in Free State; the other day he ride thirteen hours and have no food for two days.

From Project Gutenberg

Three miles to the right, over a rise and down in a dip, they said there lay the Rouxville commando of 350 men.

From Project Gutenberg

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