Pa*trol", n. See Boy
Scout.
Pa*trol" (?), v.t To go the rounds
of, as a sentry, guard, or policeman; as, to patrol a frontier;
to patrol a beat.
Pa*trol" (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Patrolled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Patrolling.] [F. patrouiller, O. & Prov. F.
patrouiller to paddle, paw about, patrol, fr. patte a
paw; cf. D. poot paw, G. pfote, and E. pat, v.]
To go the rounds along a chain of sentinels; to traverse a police
district or beat.
Pa*trol", n. [F. patrouille, OF.
patouille. See Patrol, v. i.]
1. (Mil.) (a) A going of
the rounds along the chain of sentinels and between the posts, by a
guard, usually consisting of three or four men, to insure greater
security from attacks on the outposts. (b)
A movement, by a small body of troops beyond the line of
outposts, to explore the country and gain intelligence of the enemy's
whereabouts. (c) The guard or men who go
the rounds for observation; a detachment whose duty it is to
patrol.
2. Any perambulation of a particular line or
district to guard it; also, the men thus guarding; as, a customs
patrol; a fire patrol.
In France there is an army of patrols to secure
her fiscal regulations.
A. Hamilton.