platoon

[pluh-toon] /pləˈtun/
noun
1.
a military unit consisting of two or more squads or sections and a headquarters.
2.
a small unit of a police force.
3.
a company or group of persons:
a platoon of visitors.
4.
Football. a group of players specially trained in one aspect of the game, as offense or defense, and used as a unit:
a halfback on the offensive platoon.
verb (used with object)
5.
Sports.
  1. to use (a player) at a position in a game alternately with another player or players.
  2. to alternate (two different teams or units), as separate offensive and defensive squads.
verb (used without object)
6.
Sports.
  1. to alternate at a position with another player or players.
  2. to use players alternately at the same position.
  3. to alternate different teams.
Origin
1630-40; earlier plotton < French peloton little ball, group, platoon, diminutive of pelote ball. See pellet, -oon
Examples from the web for platoon
  • Command platoon there are four commando squads in every platoon.
British Dictionary definitions for platoon

platoon

/pləˈtuːn/
noun
1.
(military) a subunit of a company usually comprising three sections of ten to twelve men: commanded by a lieutenant
2.
a group or unit of people, esp one sharing a common activity, characteristic, etc
Word Origin
C17: from French peloton little ball, group of men, from pelote ball; see pellet
Word Origin and History for platoon
n.

1630s, from French peloton "platoon, group of people," from Middle French peloton (15c.), literally "little ball," hence, "agglomeration," diminutive of Old French pelote "ball" (see pellet).

v.

in baseball, "to alternate (a player) with another in the same position," 1967, from platoon (n.), which had been used in team sports since 1941.