n. pl. com·man·dosor com·man·does Idiom: 1. a. A soldier with special training for quick destructive raids against enemy-held areas. b. A small fighting force consisting of such soldiers. 2. a. An organized force of Boer troops in South Africa. b. A raid made by such a force. go commando Slang To wear clothing without wearing undergarments, especially underpants. [Originally Boer raiding party, raid carried out by such a party, from Afrikaans kommando, armed force of Boer fighters, from Dutch commando, unit of troops, from Spanish comando, command, military authority, from comandar, to command, from Late Latin commandāre; see COMMAND.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.