squad

[skwod]

noun

1. a small number of soldiers, commonly 10 privates, a staff sergeant, and a corporal; the smallest military unit.

2. a group of police officers, especially one organized to deal with a particular area of law enforcement.

   drug squad; fraud squad.

3. any small group or party of persons engaged in a common enterprise.

4. a sports team or a group of players from which a team is selected.

5. Slang.,  a group of friends.

verb (used with object)

squadded, squadding 

1. to form into squads.

2. to assign to a squad.

squad

/ skwɒd /

noun

1. the smallest military formation, typically comprising a dozen soldiers, used esp as a drill formation

2. any small group of people engaged in a common pursuit

3. sport a number of players from which a team is to be selected

Word History and Origins

Origin of squad¹

1640–50; < French esquade, alteration of esquadre < Spanish escuadra square; so called from square shape of the formation

Word History and Origins

Origin of squad¹

C17: from Old French esquade, from Old Spanish escuadra, from escuadrar to _square , from the square formations used

Example Sentences

In many ways, this one was the most painful, and not only because Boone said repeatedly in recent weeks that he believed this was the most talented squad he had ever helmed.

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He had complained upon arriving last year that his squad was too big and too unwieldy.

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But in a series of moves that should set off alarm bells around the league, Liverpool went and improved its squad anyway—and not just at the margins.

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There isn’t a more exciting squad in world soccer right now than FC Barcelona’s.

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On the other end of the spectrum, a lack of thump could be cause for concern for the squad with MLB’s best record.

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Related Words

• band 
• battalion 
• division 
• force 
• gang 
• group 
• squadron 
• troop