/keuh man"doh, -mahn"-/ , n. , pl. commandos, commandoes .
1. (in World War II)
a. any of the specially trained Allied military units used for surprise, hit-and-run raids against Axis forces.
b. a member of any of these units. Cf. ranger (def. 3).
2. any military unit organized for operations similar to those of the commandos of World War II.
3. a member of a military assault unit or team trained to operate quickly and aggressively in especially urgent, threatening situations, as against terrorists holding hostages.
[ 1785-95; kommando raid, raiding party, a unit of militia
commando unit commanded, n. deriv. of commandar to COMMAND ]