patrol
puh-TROHL
/pəˈtroʊl/
To walk or drive through an area to maintain security and prevent crime.
Emphasizes routine, active physical movement through a geographic area.
The story behind the word. Patrol derives from French 'patrouiller', which originally meant to paddle around in mud or tramp through mire. It evolved to describe sentries squelching along muddy perimeter lines to keep watch.
Word relationships
- scout: Scouting focuses on gathering information ahead, while patrolling focuses on security monitoring.
- guard: Guarding often implies staying fixed at one post, whereas patrolling involves continuous movement.
- neglect: Neglect means leaving an area unmonitored and unprotected.
Commonly confused with
- surveillance: Patrolling is active physical movement; surveillance is continuous monitoring, often from a hidden position.
Word family
- patroller (noun): A person who carries out a patrol
- patrolling (noun/adjective): The action or state of keeping watch by moving around
Collocations
- police patrol
- patrol officer
- patrol the streets
- border patrol
Idioms & expressions
- on patrol
Example sentences
- "Officers patrol the downtown financial district every night to prevent break-ins." Police routine
- "The border patrol maintained continuous watch over the rugged mountain passes." Border security
Memory hook
PATROLS PADDLE on foot through their designated areas. Moving around to guard.
When not to use
Do not use for stationary guarding or passive electronic monitoring.
Fun facts
- The French root 'patte' means paw or foot, so patrolling originally referred to tramping on foot through mud.
Related words
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