Main Entry: ¹pla·toon

Pronunciation: \plə-ˈtün, pla-\

Function: noun

Etymology: French peloton small detachment, literally, ball, from Middle French pelote little ball — more at pellet

Date: 1637

1 : a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections
2 : a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity <a platoon of waiters>; especially : a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body