echelon

ech·e·lon  (sh-ln)

n.

1.

a. A formation of troops in which each unit is positioned successively to the left or right of the rear unit to form an oblique or steplike line.

b. A flight formation or arrangement of craft in this manner.

c. A similar formation of groups, units, or individuals.

2. A subdivision of a military or naval force: a command echelon.

3. A level of responsibility or authority in a hierarchy; a rank: a job in the company's lower echelon.

tr. & intr.v. ech·e·loned, ech·e·lon·ing, ech·e·lons

To arrange or take place in an echelon.

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[French échelon, from Old French eschelon, rung of a ladder, from eschiele, ladder, from Late Latin scla, back-formation from Latin sclae, steps, ladder; see skand- in Indo-European roots.]

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echelon [esh-a-lon]

Noun

1. a level of power or responsibility: the upper echelons of society

2. Mil a formation in which units follow one another but are spaced out sideways to allow each a line of fire ahead [French échelon rung of a ladder]

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Echelon an arrangement of troops drawn up in parallel lines in step formation, 1796; vessels advancing in line at an angle to the direction of sailing.

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1. A subdivision of a headquarters, i.e., forward echelon, rear echelon.
2. Separate level of command. As compared to a regiment, a division is a higher echelon, a battalion is a lower echelon.
3. A fraction of a command in the direction of depth to which a principal combat mission is assigned; i.e., attack echelon, support echelon, reserve echelon.
4. A formation in which its subdivisions are placed one behind another, with a lateral and even spacing to the same side.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	echelon - a body of troops arranged in a line military force, military group, military unit, force - a unit that is part of some military service; "he sent Caesar a force of six thousand men" armed forces, armed services, military, military machine, war machine - the military forces of a nation; "their military is the largest in the region"; "the military machine is the same one we faced in 1991 but now it is weaker"
	2.	echelon - a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset diffraction grating, grating - optical device consisting of a surface with many parallel grooves in it; disperses a beam of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) into its wavelengths to produce its spectrum

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echelon

noun level, place, office, position, step, degree, rank, grade, tier, rung