troop

troop [tro͞op]

n.

[Fr troupe < OFr, back-form. < troupeau < ML troppus, a flock < Frank * throp, a crowd; akin to OE thorp, village: see THORP]

1. a group of persons, animals, or, formerly, things; herd, flock, band, etc.

2. loosely a great number; lot

3. [pl.]

a) a body of soldiers

b) soldiers [45 troops were killed]

4.

a) a subdivision of a mounted cavalry regiment

b) an armored cavalry unit that corresponds to a company of infantry

5. a unit of Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts under an adult leader

6. Archaic a group of actors; troupe

vi.

1. to gather or go together in a throng [the crowd trooped out of the stadium]

2. to walk, go, or pass [children were trooping along the sidewalk]

3. Archaic to associate or consort

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troop the colors

Brit. to parade the colors, or flag, before troops

SYN.- TROOP is applied to a group of people organized as a unit [a cavalry troop], or working or acting together in close cooperation [troops of sightseers ]; TROUPE is the current form with reference to a group of performers, as in the theater or a circus; COMPANY is the general word for any group of people associated in any of various ways; BAND² suggests a relatively small group of people closely united for some common purpose [a band of thieves, a brass band]