patrol English · revision 7382

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1664|origins=fr patrouille}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /pəˈtɹəʊl/ ''(UK)''; /pəˈtɹoʊl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|fr|patrouille|t=a night watch]], partly through German [[m|de|Patrolle]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(NODE 1998) from [[m|fr|patrouiller|t=to go the rounds; originally, to tramp through the mud]], from Old French patouiller, to paddle in water,^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021) probably from [[m|fro|pate|t=paw, foot]] (see [[patten]]).^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The action of going the rounds of a garrison or camp: 1664, in Butler's ''Hudibras''.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) Etymonline dates it to the 1660s.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Etymonline suggests it was probably soldiers' slang, comparing the American army slang paddlefoot, an infantry soldier;^(Etymonline) Word Origins notes it brings out the unpleasant side of military life.^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) Those who go on patrol are a patrol from 1670,^(OED 1989) and a detachment sent out to scout from 1702.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) The verb is from the 1690s.^(Etymonline) A unit of six to eight scouts or guides is from 1908,^(OED 1989) and a reconnaissance flight by military aircraft from 1917.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1664 – going the rounds.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670 – the guards on patrol.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1690s – the verb.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1702 – a scouting detachment.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1908 – a unit of scouts.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or group sent to keep watch over an area, especially soldiers or police.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The act of going round an area to keep watch.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A unit of six to eight Scouts or Guides.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To keep watch over an area by regularly walking or travelling round it.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[patroller]]

+ * [[patrolman]]

+ * [[patrolwoman]]

+ * [[repatrol]]

+ * [[unpatrolled]]

+ * [[dawn patrol]]

+ * [[highway patrol]]

+ * [[patrol car]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[paw]]

+ * [[patten]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}