platoon

Meanings

Noun

• A unit of thirty to forty soldiers typically commanded by a lieutenant and forming part of a company.
• A group of self-driving vehicles travelling in a close convoy and communicating electronically with each other.

Verb

• To alternate starts with a teammate of opposite handedness, depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher
• Of self-driving vehicles: to travel in a close convoy, each vehicle communicating electronically with the others.

Origin

• From obsolete French plauton, variant of peloton, from Middle French pelote + -on. peloton .Compare pellet.