/pleuh toohn"/ , n.
1. a military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.
2. a small unit of a police force.
3. a company or group of persons: a platoon of visitors.
4. Football. a group of players specially trained in one aspect of the game, as offense or defense, and used as a unit: a halfback on the offensive platoon.
v.t.
5. Sports.
a. to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.
b. to alternate (two different teams or units), as separate offensive and defensive squads.
v.i.
6. Sports.
a. to alternate at a position with another player or players.
b. to use players alternately at the same position.
c. to alternate different teams.
[ 1630-40; earlier plotton peloton little ball, group, platoon, dim. of pelote ball. See PELLET, -OON ]