diff --git a/Documentation/git-checkout.txt b/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
index 4014e7256d..e11cddbfc9 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-checkout.txt
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ git-checkout(1)
 
 NAME
 ----
-git-checkout - Checkout and switch to a branch
+git-checkout - Checkout a branch or paths to the working tree
 
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
diff --git a/Documentation/glossary.txt b/Documentation/glossary.txt
index ab4caf4e26..51b63532b6 100644
--- a/Documentation/glossary.txt
+++ b/Documentation/glossary.txt
@@ -45,9 +45,12 @@ GIT Glossary
 	"changesets" with git.
 
 [[def_checkout]]checkout::
-	The action of updating the <<def_working_tree,working tree>> to a
-	<<def_revision,revision>> which was stored in the
-	<<def_object_database,object database>>.
+	The action of updating all or part of the
+	<<def_working_tree,working tree>> with a <<def_tree_object,tree object>>
+	or <<def_blob_object,blob>> from the
+	<<def_object_database,object database>>, and updating the
+	<<def_index,index>> and <<def_HEAD,HEAD>> if the whole working tree has
+	been pointed at a new <<def_branch,branch>>.
 
 [[def_cherry-picking]]cherry-picking::
 	In <<def_SCM,SCM>> jargon, "cherry pick" means to choose a subset of