platoon
/pləˈtuːn
/noun
1A subdivision of a company of soldiers, usually forming a tactical unit that is commanded by a subaltern or lieutenant and divided into three sections: [as modifier]: the platoon commander...
- A platoon of soldiers stands at a checkpoint on a barren road in the middle of miles and miles of trackless desert.
- The heavy armored cavalry troop is organized with a troop headquarters, two scout platoons, two tank platoons, a mortar section, and a maintenance section.
- The third rifle platoon was committed to reinforce success on the right flank.
Synonyms
unit, patrol, troop, squad, team, squadron, company, group, corps, division, outfit, detachment, contingent
1.1A group of people acting together: platoons of sharp lawyers...
- Prosecutors are either too timid or outgunned by the platoons of pricey defense lawyers.
- Some suits already have been filed, and platoons of lawyers and other legal watchdogs are standing by in battleground states like Wisconsin just in case.
- I had my 9 a.m. acting class to teach to our platoon of body doubles.
1.2 [as modifier] (In South Africa) denoting a school or schooling system in which two separate sets of teachers and pupils use the same buildings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
1.3 [as modifier] Baseball Engaged in platooning: a platoon player...
- At the very least he might land one or more useful platoon players, or an everyday guy who can deliver league-average performance at bargain rates.
- And Cal Ripken, just days after learning he is a platoon player from here on out, hit his first 2001 homer.
- I like the Kent signing, think Valentin is okay as a platoon player, and am having hopefully not naive hopes that Perez is a player.
verb
1 [with object] (In South Africa) apply the platoon system to (a school): it has been found necessary to platoon 14 schools
2 [with object] Baseball Use the strategy of alternating (a pair of players or one player with another) in a specified field position in successive games: at catcher we platooned Petralli and Stanley...
- Expect Walker to handle the ball even more this season with the team platooning several players at point guard.
- Casey platooned Brown and Billy Johnson at third.
- Expect Iannetta to face a good number of southpaws, as the club would be best suited to platoon the position.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from French peloton 'platoon', literally 'small ball', diminutive of pelote.
pellet from Late Middle English:
Pellet is from Old French pelote ‘metal ball’, from a diminutive of Latin pila ‘ball’. Latin pila is also the source of pill, originally balls of medicine, and piles for haemorrhoids (both LME). Platoon is a less obvious relative. It comes from French peloton ‘platoon’, literally ‘small ball’. It captured the concept of a small body of foot soldiers acting as a closely organized unit.