COMMANDO • DICCIONARIO INGLES.COM • Definition of Commando

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/kəmˈændˌoʊ/ Listen

noun

Commando n.

In South Africa, a military body or command; also, sometimes, an expedition or raid; as, a commando of a hundred Boers. "The war bands, called commandos, have played a great part in the... military history of the country."

A usually small military unit trained to perform special missions, often behind enemy lines, and usually employing hit-and-run tactics. Such units often have the destruction of fixed targets, such as enemy installations, as their mission, in contrast to normal combat units which engage the enemy army directly.

A member of a commando (2) unit.

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Etymology of 'Commando'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Commando" Quotes from Famous Books

... that there were no Boer commandoes anywhere within miles; that the whole family cordially hoped that there never would be again, and that Brink was really a most loyal Briton, and had been much against the war, but had been forced to go on commando with his two sons. Their loyalty was evident, because there was an oleograph of the Queen on the wall, and one of the numerous flappers was playing our National anthem on the ...

— The Defence of Duffer's Drift • Ernest Dunlop Swinton

... with the exception of the hired natives, is summoned for the maintenance of order, for commando duty on the occasion of home rebellion, and without any exception for the protection of the country, and to fight with ...

— Selected Official Documents of the South African Republic and Great Britain • Various

... Yesterday, at Commando Nek, we were rejoined by the rest of the Composite Squadron, and remounts were brought up from Pretoria (about 300); on account of the latter I am glad that I did not commence this letter the same evening, for we Yeomanry had to lead them. The brutes were Hungarians ...

— A Yeoman's Letters - Third Edition • P. T. Ross

... addition to the boys' crest, wore a circlet of curly hair round the head, carried the weakling lambs and kids, or aided their mammas in transporting the baby. Apparently in great fear of the "All" or Commando, the Bedouins anxiously inquired if I had my "fire" with me [26], and begged us to take the post of honour—the van. As our little party pricked forward, the camels started in alarm, and we were surprised to find that this tribe did not know ...

— First footsteps in East Africa • Richard F. Burton

... had led the mob had run out into the middle of the road. His commando was a little disposed to assume a marginal position, and it had to be reassured. He was near enough for Benham to see his face. For a time it looked anxious and thoughtful. Then he seemed to jump to his decision. He unbuttoned and opened his coat wide as if ...

— The Research Magnificent • H. G. Wells