squadron

Etymology

From Italian squadrone. See squad.

noun

1. (obsolete) A body of troops drawn up in a square.
2. (military, historical, army) A body of cavalry comprising two companies or troops, averaging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred soldiers.
3. (military) A body of infantrymen made up of several platoons, averaging from eighty to one hundred and fifty men, and led by a captain or a major.
4. (military, navy) A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer
   the North Atlantic Squadron
5. (military, air force) A tactical air force unit; consists of at least two flights; multiple squadrons make up a group or wing (depending on particular air force).
6. (US, military, U.S. Space Force) A spaceforce unit; multiple squadrons make up an operations delta or a support garrison.

verb

1. (transitive) To divide up into squadrons.