squad

squad · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European*kʷetwṓr
2. Proto-Italic*kʷettwōr
3. Latinquattuor
4. Latinquadrus
5. Latinquadrōbf.?
6. Latinquadrus
7. Vulgar Latin*exquadrō
8. Italiansquadraredeverb.
9. Italiansquadra
10. Frenchescouade
11. English todaysquad

From French escouade, from Italian squadra (“square”) (whence also French escadre). Doublet of squadra and square.

squad · noun²

Uncertain. Compare squick (“disgust”), squalid (“dirty”) with similar initial sounds.

Squad · proper noun³

Coined by American politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in 2018.

Squad · proper noun⁴

Coined by Pentagon officials in reference to the Quad, a similar military alliance.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid-17th c. Sloppy mud.