See Also: platoon(dictionary)
platoon(encyclopedia)
platoon(dictionary)

platoon (iou)



platoon noun & verb. M17.
[French peloton little ball, platoon, dim. of pelote: see PELLET noun1, -OON.]
A. noun.
Military. Orig., a small body of foot-soldiers, detached from a larger body and operating as an organized unit. Now, a subdivision (usu. a quarter) of a company, a tactical unit commanded by a lieutenant and usu. divided into three sections. M17.
Military. A number of shots fired simultaneously by a platoon or body of men; a volley. obsolete exc. Hist. E18.
Any group of people acting together; spec. (a) Amer. Football a group of players trained to act together as a single unit of attack or defence and usu. sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body; (b) US Sport a group of players who alternate in the same position in a team. E18.
Baseball Illustrated Shane Mack began the season as a platoon right fielder, but ended up as a regular. Time A platoon of media advisers..oversaw his every move.
A group of vehicles moving together as if in convoy owing to the constraints of the traffic system. L20.
b. verb.
verb intrans. Fire a volley. Only in 18.
verb trans. Dispose in platoons. rare. M20.
US Sport.
a. verb trans. Alternate (a player) with another in the same position. M20.
b. verb intrans. Interchange with or with another player in the same position. M20.