commando

com·man·do

noun \kə-ˈman-(ˌ)dō\

plural com·man·dos or com·man·does

Definition of COMMANDO

1

South African

a : a military unit or command of the Boers

b : a raiding expedition

2

a : a military unit trained and organized as shock troops especially for hit-and-run raids into enemy territory

b : a member of such a unit

— go commando

slang : to wear no underwear

Origin of COMMANDO

Afrikaans kommando, from Dutch commando command, from Spanish comando, from comandar to command, from Late Latin commandare

First Known Use: 1839

commando

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In British military forces, a unit consisting of marines and soldiers organized for rapid deployment and trained to conduct special operations. The commando originated with the Boers in South Africa, where it was the administrative and tactical unit “commandeered” by law. In World War II the British adopted the term for a new specially trained amphibious raiding force. Modern commandos are units of the Royal Marines with support troops from the British Army; by extension a member of such a unit is also called a commando and is entitled to wear a green beret.