I. pə-ˈtrōl noun
Date: 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
II. verb
( pa·trolled ; pa·trol·ling )
Etymology: French patrouiller, from Middle French, to tramp around in the mud, from patte paw — more at patten
Date: 1691
intransitive verb
: to carry out a patrol
transitive verb
: to carry out a patrol of
• pa·trol·ler noun