Etymologically
Log in

patrouille

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 17 October 2026 at 22:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /pa.tʁuj/[1]

Forms

patrouille f (plural patrouilles)[1]

Etymology

It is the noun of patrouiller (early 15th century),[2][3][4][5] a variant of “patouiller” “to paddle, mess about in mud” whose ⟨r⟩ comes from dialect words of similar meaning such as “gadrouiller” and “vadrouiller”, “patouiller” is derived from patte (“paw”).[3][6][1] Compare Spanish patrulla and Italian pattuglia.[7]

Earliest recorded meaning

Robert Estienne (1538) has it for “paddling, messing about” and, by metonymy, a swab made of old rags;[2][3] Henri Estienne listed patouille or patrouille among the new military expressions.[7]

Semantic evolution

Under the influence of patrouiller “to make the rounds” (1553), it took its modern sense in Amyot (1559), a round of watch by a detachment of soldiers or police, probably first as soldiers' slang, and in 1671 the detachment itself.[2][3][8] Later uses include air patrols (patrouille de chasse, 1917, la Patrouille de France), scouting (1928) and a surveillance mission given to a few soldiers, aircraft or ships (1951).[9][2] Être pris par la patrouille “to be caught out” alludes to the police.[3] English patrol was borrowed in the 1660s.[8]

Timeline

  • Early 15th century – Patrouiller.[3]
  • 1538 – Patrouille “paddling; swab”.[2]
  • 1553 – Patrouiller “to make the rounds”.[3]
  • 1559 – A patrol, in Amyot.[2]
  • 1660s – English patrol.[8]
  • 1671 – The detachment.[2]
  • 1917 – In aviation.[9]
  • 1928 – In scouting.[2]

Meanings

Noun

  1. A patrol (round of watch; the detachment): une patrouille de police, partir en patrouille.[9][10]
  2. (military) A small unit on a mission, (aviation) a flight: patrouille de chasse.[9][10]
  3. (scouting) A patrol.[2]
  • patrouiller
  • patouiller
  • patte
  • English patrol

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  4. ^ Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
  5. ^ Wartburg, Walther von, et al. (1922–2002), Französisches Etymologisches Wörterbuch, 25 vols., Bonn / Leipzig / Basel: Klopp / Teubner / Zbinden, p. 8, 40a
  6. ^ Bloch, Oscar; Wartburg, Walther von (1989), Dictionnaire étymologique de la langue française, 8th ed., Paris: Presses universitaires de France
  7. ^ a b Littré, Émile (1873–1877), Dictionnaire de la langue française, 4 vols. and supplement, Paris: Hachette
  8. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  9. ^ a b c d Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
  10. ^ a b Dictionnaire de français Larousse, larousse.fr/dictionnaires/francais (accessed 2024)