[pa.trol] n (1664) 1 a: the action of traversing a district or beat or of going the rounds along a chain of guards for observation or the maintenance of security b: the person performing such an action c: a unit of persons or vehicles employed for reconnaissance, security, or combat
2: a subdivision of a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop
[2]patrol vb pa.trolled ; pa.trol.ling [F patrouiller, fr. MF, to tramp around in the mud, fr. patte paw--more at patten] vi (1691): to carry out a patrol ~ vt: to carry out a patrol of -- pa.trol.ler n