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platoon Definition

pla·toon (plə to̵̅o̅n′)

noun

  1. a military unit composed of two or more squads or sections, normally under the command of a lieutenant: it is a subdivision of a company, troop, etc.
  2. a group or unit like this a platoon of police
  3. Sports any of the specialized squads (as the offensive and defensive squads in professional football) constituting a single team

Etymology: Fr peloton, a ball, group, platoon < OFr pelote, a ball: see pellet

transitive verb

  1. to divide into platoons, or use as or on a platoon
  2. ☆ Sports to alternate (players) at a position to platoon two rookies in right field

intransitive verb

  1. to be alternated with another player at a position
  2. to platoon players at a position

platoon Synonyms

platoon

n.

detachment, military unit, company; see army 2.

platoon Usage Examples

Preposition: of

  • battalion: EVACUATION The ambulance platoon of the support battalion medical company provides evacuation.
  • soldier: At this period or a little later, a platoon of 36 soldiers would have three Bren guns.

Converse of object

  • deploy: In contrast a Russian platoon deployed in a Broad Wedge had a defensive position 250 m wide by 150 m deep.
  • command: Rae commanded a platoon in ' C ' Company holding the line at Hooge Crater.

Adjective modifier

  • 1st: He tells 1st platoon to get over to the left flank on the double.
  • 2nd: The advance guard were the three tanks carrying Bessonov's 2nd Platoon, 1st company.
  • entire: Losing an entire command platoon had thrown the communist offensive into total disarray.
  • German: This scenario represents a platoon assault on a defended German position manned by an understrength German platoon.
  • whole: Traveling back to the airport in a van with a whole platoon of the grumpy old men I found he had stirred UKIP too.

Modifies a noun

  • sergeant: Corporal Wood's platoon sergeant was killed, the onus being placed on Corporal Wood to become its leader.
  • commander: In all this time, the only officer I saw was our Platoon commander, Captain Skinner.
  • headquarters: The platoon headquarters can provide the mobile patrols along the platoon segment of the route.
  • leader: Several kilometers away, the platoon leader watches the action on his wrist monitor.
  • officer: Our platoon officer suddenly gave the order to get down into cover.

Noun used with modifier

  • anti-tank: Currently in command of an anti-tank platoon, he is about to convert to the new Javelin weapons system.
  • infantry: Infantry Platoon Generally three or four squads per platoon, possibly with attached heavy weapons.
  • scout: Movement control teams are structured around the scout platoon to maintain a cohesive chain of command.
  • rifle: The reserve will only be one motorized rifle platoon.
  • mortar: The Battalion suffered little German artillery fire, however, lost their mortar platoon due to an unlucky enemy shell.
  • reconnaissance: At the start of the game each side may allocate one reconnaissance platoon to infiltration via the sewers.