escadron

squadron

noun es-kah-DRON Rare

Origin: Italian 'squadrone' (large square of troops)

Usage Note

Escadron in the French military denotes a cavalry or armoured unit, the rough equivalent of a company in infantry. The expression chef d'escadron is a specific rank. Escadrille is the smaller air unit; escadre is a naval squadron — learners should not confuse the three.

Examples

"L'escadron de cavalerie a traversé la plaine."

Natural Translation

The cavalry squadron crossed the plain.

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