Troop
Pronunciation
- IPA: /tɹuËp/
- Rhymes: -uËp
Origin
Attested in English since 1545, from French troupe (back-formation of troupeau, diminutive of Medieval Latin troppus "flock") and Middle French trouppe (from Old French trope ("band, company, troop")), both of origin from Frankish *thorp ("assembly, gathering"), from Proto-Germanic *þurpą ("village, land, estate"), from Proto-Germanic *treb- ("dwelling, settlement"). Akin to Old English þorp, þrop ("village, farm, estate") (Modern English thorp), Old Frisian þorp, Old Norse þorp. More at thorp.
Full definition of troop
Noun
troop
(plural troops)- A collection of people; a company; a number; a multitude.
- ShakespeareThat which should accompany old age —
As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends —
I must not look to have. - (military) A small unit of cavalry or armour commanded by a captain, corresponding to a platoon or company of infantry.
- A detachment of soldiers or police, especially horse artillery, armour, or state troopers.
- Soldiers, military forces (usually "troops").
- ShakespeareFarewell the plumed troop, and the big wars.
- MacaulayHis troops moved to victory with the precision of machines.
- (nonstandard) A company of stageplayers; a troupe.
- A particular roll of the drum; a quick march.
- A unit of girl or boy scouts.
- (mycology) Mushrooms that are in a close group but not close enough to be called a cluster.
Derived terms
Verb
- To move in numbers; to come or gather in crowds or troops.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 5, Then everybody once more knelt, and soon the blessing was pronounced. The choir and the clergy trooped out slowly, …, down the nave to the western door. … At a seemingly immense distance the surpliced group stopped to say the last prayer.
- To march on; to go forward in haste.
- To move or march as if in a crowd.The children trooped into the room.
Derived terms
- troop the colour British, military