Where does the word "Squadron" come from??

[williamp]

I have only heard of it being used in Military Aviation terms, and obviously its not that old.

So where does the word originate from? Was there an early pioneer called Mr Squadron???

[Lu Zuckerman]

To: williamp


A naval unit consisting of two or more divisions of a fleet.

An armored cavalry unit subordinate to a regiment and consisting of two or more troops.

A cavalry or armored unit of a European army, corresponding to a company.

A basic tactical air force unit, subordinate to a group and consisting of two or more flights.

A multitude or horde: “Squadrons of flies like particles of dust danced up and down” (T.E. Lawrence).

n 1: a cavalry unit consisting of two or more troops and headquarters and supporting arms 2: a unit of the US air force larger than a flight and smaller than a group 3: a naval unit that is detached from the fleet for a particular task

\Squad"ron\, n. [F. escadron, formerly also esquadron, or It. squadrone. See Squad.] 1. Primarily, a square; hence, a square body of troops; a body of troops drawn up in a square. [R.]


Ain't the internet wonderful?



:E :E

[MLS-12D]

"Square" is derived from the Latin phrase exquadrare, like a quadratic. Over time the term was contracted into its present form, and came to mean the regular quadrilateral. The word is also the root of the military term "squadron", which originally meant a fighting square from the early practice of fighting in square formations.There we go! ;)