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

The jockeying for positions will continue over the next months - so who are those players with something to prove to Tuchel as he considers England's squad to take to the World Cup?

Read more on BBC

England's last triumph in Australia was in 2010-2011, when Broad was part of a squad which won 3-1 to retain the urn.

Read more on BBC

Right-back Lucy Bronze has been named in the England squad for this month's friendlies against Brazil and Australia despite only returning from injury on Sunday.

Read more on BBC

Windsor Park was at its rip-roaring best on Monday to greet Germany and O'Neill said the home support "carried" his young squad as legs started to tire.

Read more on BBC

Once young Keaton decided she wanted to perform, she set about auditioning for everything from the church choir and the cheerleading squad to the class play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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