squadra Italian · revision 37859

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=13th century|origins=la quadrus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * /ˈskwa.dra/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''squadra''' ''f'' (plural squadre)^(Wiktionary)

+ Old Italian forms include ''scatra'', ''scuadra'', ''sguadra'' and ''squara''.^(GDLI|19, 1081)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed from the verb [[squadrare|t=to square]] without a suffix.^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(GRADIT 2003)^(Wiktionary) That verb continues [[inh|la-vul|*exquadrō|alt=*exquadrāre]], made of [[m|la|ex-]] and [[la|quadrō|t=to make square]], which comes from [[m|la|quadrus|t=square]].^(DELI 1999)^(Nocentini 2010)^(Wiktionary) The tool has the same origin as [[fr|équerre]], [[oc|escaire]], [[es|escuadra]] and [[pt|esquadro]].^(REW 1935)

+

+ Nocentini separates ⟨squadra¹⟩, the tool for squaring, from ⟨squadra²⟩, an arrangement in a square and so a group of four.^(Nocentini 2010) Treccani and Sabatini–Coletti likewise explain the military sense from formations that were originally drawn up in a square.^(Treccani 2011)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026) DEI derives the naval sense from ships sailing in formation.^(DEI|3607) Medieval Latin had ⟨squatra⟩ at Todi in 1289.^(DEI|3607)^(GDLI|19, 1081)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ DELI's first record is in a poet of the 13th-century Sicilian school, for the drawing tool: ''Sì terrò per voi le seste e squadre'' “so I will hold the compasses and squares for you”.^(DELI 1999)^(GDLI|19, 1081) Tommaseo and DEI attribute the line to Franco Sacchetti, and GRADIT dates the word to the first half of the 14th century.^(Tommaseo–Bellini 1861)^(DEI|3607)^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Filarete used the word before 1465 for a group of people doing the same work, and Lorenzo de' Medici for a band of companions.^(DELI 1999)^(Prati 1951|943) In the military sense it named the smallest unit of the army in Guicciardini (before 1540) and a group of soldiers in Tasso (1581), with the form ''squatra'' already at the end of the 15th century.^(DELI 1999) Galileo uses it for a group of warships in the 17th century.^(DEI|3607) The sports sense “team” is recorded from 1914, and ''squadre d'azione'' were the armed fascist squads of 1921.^(DELI 1999)^(DIFIT)

+

+ Italian ''squadra'' and ''squadrone'' passed into the other languages of Europe as military words: [[fr|escadre]], [[es|escuadra]] and [[pt|esquadra]] “squadron”, and [[m|fr|escadron]].^(REW 1935)^(DEI|3607) English took ''squadra'' in 1922 for a fascist squad.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 13th century – A Sicilian-school poet uses the word for the drawing tool.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1289 – Medieval Latin ⟨squatra⟩ is recorded at Todi.^(DEI|3607)

+ * before 1465 – Filarete uses it for a team of workers.^(DELI 1999)

+ * late 15th century – ''Squatra'' is used for a group of soldiers.^(DELI 1999)

+ * before 1540 – Guicciardini uses it for the smallest army unit.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 17th century – Galileo uses it for a squadron of ships.^(DEI|3607)

+ * 1914 – The sense “sports team” appears in the Resto del Carlino.^(DELI 1999)

+ * 1922 – English borrows ''squadra'' for a fascist squad.^(DIFIT)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A [[m|en|set square]], a right-angled triangle used in technical drawing.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)

+ # A [[m|en|square]] used by carpenters and builders to mark and check right angles.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''A squadra'', ''in squadra'': at right angles.^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Fuori squadra'': out of true, and figuratively upset or out of sorts.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Devoto–Oli 2026)^(Gabrielli 2020)

+ # ''(military)'' A [[m|en|squad]], the smallest unit of the army, led by a non-commissioned officer.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # ''(military)'' A [[m|en|squadron]] of warships or military aircraft.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # A team of people doing the same work: ''È arrivata una squadra di operai per riparare il tetto.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Zingarelli 2010)

+ # ''(sports)'' A [[m|en|team]]: ''La squadra di casa ha vinto di misura.''^(GRADIT 2003)^(Sabatini–Coletti 2026)^(Treccani 2011)

+ # An armed group, especially a paramilitary one.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Gabrielli 2020) ''Squadra mobile'': the special police unit that investigates crimes.^(GRADIT 2003)^(Zingarelli 2010)^(Treccani 2011)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[squadraccia]]

+ * [[squadrismo]]

+ * [[squadrista]]

+ * [[squadrone]]

+ * [[squadretta]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[quadrare]]

+ * [[quadro]]

+ * [[squadrare]]

+ * [[squadriglia]]

+ * [[squadro]]

+ * [[fr|escadre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ GRADIT lists a separate technical ''squadra'' (1960) as a variant of ''squadro'', a technical term of its own.^(GRADIT 2003)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}