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

As firefighters patrolled the area for hot spots and helped grieving residents, neighbors retold their stories of the nightmarish day.

From Los Angeles Times

And that a new patrol road, built by the UN, is assisting them.

From BBC

Police Scotland said they were investigating the incident and community police officers were carrying out additional patrols in the area.

From BBC

Members of the Conservative government urged the Metropolitan Police to increase patrols, claiming people were "glorifying the terrorist activities of Hamas".

From BBC

McKagan remembers Hollywood then as being a maelstrom of crime and drugs, with helicopters patrolling the area, gang wars and the crack epidemic.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cruise
• inspect
• safeguard