squad English · revision 4023

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1649|origins=la quadrus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /skwɒd/, US /skwɑːd/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|frm|esquade]], a variant of escadre (modern French escouade),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[es|escuadra]] or [[it|squadra|t=battalion]], literally “square”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*exquadrāre|t=to square]],^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) from Latin ex “out” and quadrāre “to make square”, from quadrus “a square”,^(Etymonline) from [[ine-pro|*kʷetwóres|alt=*kwetwer-|t=four]].^(Etymonline) Its aphetic form follows [[squadron]].^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) The name comes from the square formation in which troops were commonly arranged to repel cavalry.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) It is related to [[square]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A small number of soldiers, a subdivision of a company formed for drill or some duty: 1649 in the OED, Barnhart and Merriam-Webster,^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) the 1640s in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Infantry fought in squares before the widespread use of automatic weapons, though the squad as a unit was meant to improve discipline.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) The ''awkward squad'', of raw recruits, is from 1796.^(OED 1989) A particular circle of people is from 1786,^(OED 1989) and any small party or group of persons by 1809.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) In sport, a group of players from whom a team is chosen, first American, it is by 1902,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and in police work by 1905;^(Etymonline) the ''squad car'' is from 1938.^(Barnhart 1988) The verb, “to arrange in squads”, is from about 1802.^(MWU 2024) In Scots and northern dialect a squad was a gang or a quantity of anything.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1649 – a small military unit.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1786 – a set of people.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1796 – ''awkward squad''.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1809 – any small group.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1902 – a sports squad.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1905 – a police squad.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1938 – ''squad car''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The smallest tactical unit of soldiers.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A small group of people organized for a common task.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A small unit of police officers: ''the drugs squad''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # A sports [[team]], or the players from whom it is chosen.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To arrange in squads.^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[squadder]]

+ * [[bomb squad]]

+ * [[firing squad]]

+ * [[flying squad]]

+ * [[squad car]]

+ * [[death squad]]

+ * [[goon squad]]

+ * [[hit squad]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[squadron]]

+ * [[square]]

+ * [[quadrant]]

+ * [[quarter]]

+ * [[cadre]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Two dialect words share the spelling: squad, soft slimy mud (1847), of unknown origin,^(SOED 2002)^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898) and squad, a Cornish mining term for loose stones of ore (1674).^(OED 1989)^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}