patrol

[ puh-trohl ]
/ pəˈtroʊl /

verb (used without object), pa·trolled, pa·trol·ling.

(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.

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

noun

Origin of patrol

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

OTHER WORDS FROM patrol

pa·trol·ler, noun re·pa·trol, verb (used with object), re·pa·trolled, re·pa·trol·ling. un·pa·trolled, adjective well-pa·trolled, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for patrol

British Dictionary definitions for patrol

patrol
/ (pəˈtrəʊl) /

noun

the action of going through or around a town, neighbourhood, etc, at regular intervals for purposes of security or observation
a person or group that carries out such an action
a military detachment with the mission of security, gathering information, or combat with enemy forces
a division of a troop of Scouts or Guides

verb -trols, -trolling or -trolled

to engage in a patrol of (a place)

Derived forms of patrol

patroller, noun

Word Origin for patrol

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