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A small party of men assembled for drill, inspection, or other purposes.

ps drawn up in a square. [R.] Those half-rounding quards Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined. Milton.

Formed into squadrons, or squares. [R.] Milton.

A squad of inapt recruits assembled for special drill.

e line of adjustment; esp., an imaginary line to regulate the formation of troops or of a squadron.

A fleet of armed ships; a squadron. Specifically, the Spanish fleet which was sent to assail England, a. d. 1558.

A number of ships so arranged as to follow one another in single or double file or in squadrons; -- in distinction from "line", where they are side by side.

n officer who ranks next above a captain; sometimes, by courtesy, the senior captain of a squadron. The rank of commodore corresponds with that of brigadier general in the army.

resultant direction or to its goal; line progress or advance. A light by which the Argive squadron steers Their silent course to Ilium's well known shore. Dennham. Westward the course of empire takes its way. Berkeley.

Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened. [R.] A deaf murmur through the squadron went. Dryden.

A set or squad of ten men under a decurion. Sir W. Raleigh.

ecess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep. Shadowing squadrons deep. Milton. Safely in harbor Is the king's ship in the deep nook. Shak.

To tell off or appoint for a particular service, as an officer, a troop, or a squadron.

See Squad,

the flagship, as aids to the flag officer. -- Flag officer, the commander of a fleet or squadron; an admiral, or commodore. -- Flag of truse, a white flag carried or displayed to an enemy, as an invitation to conference, or for the purpose of making some communication not hostile. -- Flag share, the flag officer's…

The vessel which carries the commanding officer of a fleet or squadron and flies his distinctive flag or pennant.

of persons associated for a particular purpose; a group of laborers under one foreman; a squad; as, a gang of sailors; a chain gang; a gang of thieves.

hem about, around, or in, to inclose and confine; to surround; to environ. "With valiant squadrons round about to hem." Fairfax. "Hemmed in to be a spoil to tyranny." Daniel. -- To hem out, to shut out. "You can not hem me out of London." J. Webster.

The curving extremity of the wing of an army or of a squadron drawn up in a crescentlike form. Sharpening in mooned horns Their phalanx. Milton.

ogether as parts of a force or body; as, his supporters mustered in force. "The mustering squadron." Byron.