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)

, squad·ded, squad·ding.

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

"Jamal Lewis came in with an ankle issue and he has left the camp as well, so we have a 25-man squad and we have more than enough to get through the two games."

From BBC

England are set to name their matchday squad at 13:30 GMT.

From BBC

A suspicious bag seemingly abandoned on a bench prompted the shutdown of the Torrance courthouse early Wednesday and drew the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s bomb squad to the scene.

From Los Angeles Times

In addition around 1,600 private security guards will be on duty at the stadium, and an elite anti-terrorist police unit will protect the visiting Israeli squad.

From BBC

"We've seen the knock-on effect of that in the squad the past couple of weeks."

From BBC

Related Words

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