squadron – Borrowed from Italian squadrone, from Latin quadrare, “square”; the sense of “military group” comes from an earlier “square formation of troops.” More…
campaign – First meant an open tract of land, from Latin campus, “level ground,” and the change to a military meaning came from troops “taking the field”—moving from fortress or town to open country—from which the political sense evolved, referring to the organized efforts of office-seekers to sway public opinion or influence their vote at an upcoming election. More…
echelon – Comes from French echelle, “ladder,” from Latin scala, and first meant a formation of troops. More…
corporal – Its military meaning came from “the head of a body of troops,” from French caporale. More…