brigade

Etymology

Borrowed from French brigade.

noun

1. A group of people organized for a common purpose.
   a work brigade; a fire brigade
2. (military) Military unit composed of several regiments (or battalions) and including soldiers from different arms of service.
3. (derogatory) A group of people who share views or a specific characteristic.
   More sympathy for career criminals from the bleeding-heart brigade!
   I wouldn't even want to be seen dead with those nerds of the bowl-cut brigade.
4. (Internet slang) Coordinated online harassment, disruption or influencing, especially organized by an antagonistic website or community.
   We've definitely seen an increase in abusive content since certain areas began COVID lockdowns and stay home orders, we suspect because of the growth of people having time to waste doing these sorts of brigades. 2020, “Comments of Reddit, Inc., before the Federal Communications Commission, Washington DC”, in fcc.gov

verb

1. To form or unite into a brigade; to group together.
   This is, however, a classic case where speech is brigaded with action. 1969, William O. Douglas's opinion in Brandenburg v. Ohio
2. (Internet slang) To harass an individual or community online in a coordinated manner.