Platoon
/pləˈtuːn/noun
A military unit typically consisting of two or more squads.
Did you know?In its earliest French sense, a platoon was literally a small group of troops firing together, from a word for a little ball or pellet — a tiny shape that became a military formation.
Etymological Timeline
Late 16th Century
French
peloton
“A small ball, pellet, or compact group of soldiers”
16th Century
French
pelote
“A ball, pellet, or tuft”
Late Latin
LLatin
pilotta
“A little ball”
Latin
Latin
pila
“Ball; also a pillar or heavy object”
Modern English
English
platoon
“A military unit of soldiers”