Adjacent Words

Echelon definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

ECHELON', n. In military tactics,the position of an army in the form of steps,or with one division more advanced than another.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a body of troops arranged in a line
2: a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: French échelon, literally, rung of a ladder, from Old French eschelon, from eschele ladder, from Late Latin scala Date: 1796 1. a. (1) an arrangement of a body of troops with its units each somewhat to the left or right of the one in the rear like a series of steps (2) a formation of units or individuals resembling such an echelon <geese flying in echelon> (3) a flight formation in which each airplane flies at a certain elevation above or below and at a certain distance behind and to the right or left of the airplane ahead b. any of several military units in echelon formation; also any unit or group acting in a disciplined or organized manner <served in a combat echelon> 2. a. one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity <involved employees at every echelon> b. a group of individuals at a particular level or grade in an organization <the upper echelons of the bureaucracy> II. verb Date: circa 1860 transitive verb to form or arrange in an echelon intransitive verb to take position in an echelon

U.S. Military Dictionary

(*) 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.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. --n. 1 a level or rank in an organization, in society, etc.; those occupying it (often in pl. : the upper echelons). 2 Mil. a formation of troops, ships, aircraft, etc., in parallel rows with the end of each row projecting further than the one in front (in echelon). --v.tr. arrange in an echelon. Etymology: F échelon f. échelle ladder f. L scala

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Echelon Ech"e*lon ([e^]sh"e*l[o^]n), n. [F., fr. ['e]chelle ladder, fr. L. scala.] 1. (Mil.) An arrangement of a body of troops when its divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of a ladder in position for climbing. Also used adjectively; as, echelon distance. --Upton (Tactics). 2. (Naval) An arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or V formation. --Encyc. Dict. Echelon lens (Optics), a large lens constructed in several parts or layers, extending in a succession of annular rings beyond the central lens; -- used in lighthouses.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Echelon Ech"e*lon, v. t. (Mil.) To place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in echelon.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Echelon Ech"e*lon, v. i. To take position in echelon. Change direction to the left, echelon by battalion from the right. --Upton (Tactics).

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(echelons) An echelon in an organization or society is a level or rank in it. (FORMAL) ...the lower echelons of society. N-COUNT: usu adj N, oft N of n

Moby Thesaurus

battle array, caste, class, close formation, condition, deployment, disposition, file, footing, formation, formation flying, hierarchy, open order, order, order of battle, place, position, power structure, precedence, queue, rank, rate, rating, row, sphere, stage, standing, station, status, string, tier