patrolling

Variant of patrol

transitive verb, intransitive verb patrolled, patrolling

to make a regular and repeated circuit of (an area, town, camp, etc.) in guarding or inspecting

Origin: Fr patrouiller, altered < OFr patouiller, to paddle, puddle, patrol < pate, paw: see patois

noun

  1. the act of patrolling
  2. a person or persons patrolling
    1. a small group of soldiers sent on a mission, as for reconnaissance
    2. a group of ships, airplanes, etc. used in guarding
  3. a subdivision of a troop of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts

Origin: Fr patrouille < the v.

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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