Adjacent Words

Platoon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PLATOON', n. A small square body of soldiers or musketeers, drawn out of a battalion of foot when they form a hollow square, to strengthen the angles; or a small body acting together, but separate from the main body; as, to fire by platoons.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a military unit that is a subdivision of a company; usually has a headquarters and two or more squads; usually commanded by a lieutenant
2: a team of policemen working under the military platoon system
3: a group of persons who are engaged in a common activity; "platoons of tourists poured out of the busses"; "the defensive platoon of the football team"

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: French peloton small detachment, literally, ball, from Middle French pelote little ball — more at pellet Date: 1637 1. a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections 2. a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity <a platoon of waiters>; especially a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body II. verb Date: 1963 transitive verb to play (one player) alternately with another player in the same position (as on a baseball team) intransitive verb 1. to alternate with another player at the same position 2. to use alternate players at the same position

Britannica Concise

Principal subdivision of a military company, battery, or troop. Usually commanded by a lieutenant, it consists of 25-50 soldiers organized into two or more squads led by noncommissioned officers. The term was first used in the 17th cent. to refer to a small body of musketeers who fired together in a volley alternately with another platoon. It has been used in U.S. military manuals since 1779, and throughout the 19th cent. it meant half a company. It was reintroduced into the British army in 1913. See also military unit.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 Mil. a subdivision of a company, a tactical unit commanded by a lieutenant and usu. divided into three sections. 2 a group of persons acting together. Etymology: F peloton small ball, dimin. of pelote: see PELLET, -OON

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Platoon Pla*toon", n. [F. peloton a ball of thread, a knot or group of men, a platoon, from pelote a ball formed of things wound round. See Pellet.] (Mil.) (a) Formerly, a body of men who fired together; also, a small square body of soldiers to strengthen the angles of a hollow square. (b) Now, in the United States service, half of a company.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(platoons) A platoon is a small group of soldiers, usually one which is commanded by a lieutenant. N-COUNT

Moby Thesaurus

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