commando

[kuh-man-doh, -mahn-]

noun

plural

commandos, commandoes 

1. (inWorld War II )

   1. any of the specially trained Allied military units used for surprise, hit-and-run raids against Axis forces.

   2. a member of any of these units.

2. any military unit organized for operations similar to those of the commandos of World War II.

3. a member of a military assault unit or team trained to operate quickly and aggressively in especially urgent, threatening situations, as against terrorists holding hostages.

commando

/ kəˈmɑːndəʊ /

noun

1. 1. an amphibious military unit trained for raiding

   2. a member of such a unit

2. the basic unit of the Royal Marine Corps

3. (originally) an armed force raised by Boers during the Boer War

4. (modifier) denoting or relating to a commando or force of commandos

   a commando raid

   a commando unit

adverb

1. informal,  to wear no underpants

Word History and Origins

Origin of commando¹

First recorded in 1785–95; from Afrikaans kommando “raid, raiding party, a unit of militia,” from Portuguese commando “unit commanded,” noun derivative of commandar “to command ”

Word History and Origins

Origin of commando¹

C19: from Afrikaans kommando, from Dutch commando command, from French commander to _command

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. go commando, to wear pants, shorts, a skirt, etc., with no underwear.

Example Sentences

The Hamas operation began around 6:29 a.m. and involved a rocket and drone barrage, paraglider commandos and teams of fighters fanning out on pickups and motorcycles from Gaza across southern Israel.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, the two countries share a resilient relationship rooted in defence ties - from Pakistani troop deployments in the 1960s to commandos helping quell the 1979 Mecca mosque siege.

From BBC

Captain Noah told them in an audio message, "Guys, please listen to me. 'Til now there is no helicopter for you guys, no commando, nothing. OK, be confident."

From BBC

In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 people when they boarded Turkish ship Mavi Marmara which was leading an aid flotilla towards Gaza.

From BBC

With the trial in headlines worldwide, the Palestine Liberation Organization distributed posters of Sirhan praising him as “a commando, not an assassin.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fighter 
• guard 
• guerrilla 
• marine 
• mercenary 
• officer 
• paratrooper 
• pilot 
• trooper 
• veteran 
• volunteer