Troop
/truːp/noun
A group of soldiers, people, or animals moving or acting together.
Did you know?In English, *troop* and *troupe* are historical spelling cousins, both ultimately tied to a Germanic idea of a gathered company or mass, which is why the word still feels like a living swarm.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*drupō / *thropō
“A group, crowd, or compact mass of people”
Old French
OF
troupe
“A band, troop, or company”
Middle English
ME
troupe
“A company of soldiers or performers”
16th Century
English
troop
“A body of soldiers or a company moving together”
Modern English
English
troop
“A group of soldiers, people, or animals moving or acting together”