shore patrol

American  

noun

1. (often initial capital letters) members of an organization in the U.S. Navy having police duties similar to those performed by military police. SP

---

shore patrol British  

noun

1. a naval unit serving the same function as the military police

---

Etymology

Origin of shore patrol

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

A shore patrol was instituted to catch anyone attempting to engage in trade.

From Textbooks • Dec. 14, 2022

A shore patrol officer stopped by to explain this statistical affront to 450 disappointed London girls.

From Time Magazine Archive

In San Francisco, a streetcar crashed with complete abandon into a Navy shore patrol wagon, drew cheers from watching sailors.

From Time Magazine Archive

Animal Fair: Some 2,000 dogs which will do Coast Guard shore patrol work went into training on the estate of Joseph E. Widener, multimillionaire Philadelphia art patron and horse breeder.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had stayed past the legal hour on liberty the last time in, and the shore patrol had come along and scooped him up.

From The U-boat hunters by Connolly, James B. (James Brendan)