noun / adjective
commando
kuh-MAN-doh/kəˈmændəʊ/
A specially trained military raiding force.
The commando carries out a surprise raid on the enemy base.
Etymology
The ancestor named a troop under a commander, and early English uses concerned Boer military raids. The modern sense shifts from a raiding force to an individual soldier trained for rapid special operations.
In context
a reservist in a special parachute Commando unit
More examples
- The commando withdraws after completing its mission.
- Each commando learns to navigate in darkness.
- The soldiers prepare for a commando raid.
Forms
commando · commandos · commandoes
Similar words
- raiding party
- Describes a group conducting a raid, not necessarily specially trained.
- special forces
- Covers elite military units with missions beyond raids.