PLATOON

platoon

(noun) a military unit that is a subdivision of a company; usually has a headquarters and two or more squads; usually commanded by a lieutenant

platoon

(noun) a team of policemen working under the military platoon system

platoon

(noun) a group of persons who are engaged in a common activity; “platoons of tourists poured out of the busses”; “the defensive platoon of the football team”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Noun

platoon (plural platoons)

(military) A unit of thirty to forty soldiers typically commanded by a lieutenant and forming part of a company.

A group of self-driving vehicles travelling in a close convoy and communicating electronically with each other.

Verb

platoon (third-person singular simple present platoons, present participle platooning, simple past and past participle platooned)

(baseball) To alternate starts with a teammate of opposite handedness, depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher

Of self-driving vehicles: to travel in a close convoy, each vehicle communicating electronically with the others.

Source: Wiktionary

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Pla*toon", n. Etym: [F. peloton a ball of thread, a knot or group of men, a platoon, from pelote a ball formed of things wound round. See Pellet.] (Mil.) (a) Formerly, a body of men who fired together; also, a small square body of soldiers to strengthen the angles of a hollow square. (b) Now, in the United States service, half of a company.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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