Mil. ? Obs. [ad. F. contreronde, in It. contrarondo, f. contre-, contra- against, acting as a check on + F. ronde, It. rondo, ronda, a military ‘round.’] A patrol of officers to inspect or check the rounds; also concr. the body of officers going on this duty.
1590. Sir J. Smyth, Disc. Weapons, ** iv b. To understand the orders of watches, bodies of watches, centinells, rounds, and counterrounds.
1599. Minsheu, Pleas. Dial. Sp. & Eng. (1623), 63. There is newes of the enemy & therefore needfull … that the round & counterround may goe uery thicke.
1644. Milton, Areop. (Arb.), 65. To walk the round and counter-round with his fellow inspectors.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., Counter-round, a body of officers going to visit, and inspect the rounds.
