Small groups of highly trained soldiers who carry out special military missions, raids, or attacks.
From Portuguese 'commando' and Spanish 'comando', borrowed into English during the Boer War (early 1900s) when British forces encountered Afrikaner military units. The term spread globally during World War II.
The word comes from Afrikaans settlers in South Africa—the Boers used this term for their militia units, and the British adopted it! Now it's synonymous with elite special forces like Navy SEALs and SAS, showing how military terminology spreads across wars.
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