battalion

battalion Definition

bat·tal·ion (bə tal′yən)

noun

a large group of soldiers arrayed for battle
any large group joined together in some activity
U.S. Army a tactical unit made up of three or more companies, batteries, or analogous units: it is normally commanded by a lieutenant colonel and is the basic building unit of a division

Etymology: MFr bataillon < It battaglione < battaglia < VL battalia, battle

battalion Synonyms

battalion Usage Examples

Preposition: of

regiment: Nevertheless, nine battalions of the Regiment took part.
infantry: He sent a battalion of infantry and a battery of mountain artillery.
brigade: They were to act in support of other battalions of the Brigade who carried out an attack on the German line at 6.15am.

Converse of object

rejoin: He returned to France in February 1917, rejoining the 1/5th Battalion in the field in March of that year.
motorise: Early in 1953 the Battalion moved to Libya where they became a motorized battalion equipped with armored track vehicles.
embark: His stay in Egypt was to be short and, on 5 April, the Battalion embarked for Marseilles, arriving week later.

Adjective modifier

1st: Lance Sergeant Jason Sumner, of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards, played the lament Flowers of the Forest.
2nd: The attack by 1st & 2nd Battalions went well at first.
territorial: The six Territorial battalions of The Queen's were formed into two complete Queen's brigades.
4th: He joined D Company, 4th Battalion The Green Howards in March 1935.
6th: The Command of 6th Battalion then devolved onto Major J L Hughes MC.
7th: Walter Frederick Fitch Walter Frederick Fitch was a Captain in the 7th Battalion, The Suffolk Regiment.

Modifies a noun

commander: The support battalion commander relies heavily on the brigade rear CP for passing information on terrain analysis from the brigade main CP.
headquarters: He was handed in to battalion Headquarters whilst we were there.

Noun used with modifier

infantry: There were also six European infantry battalions, two in each army.
maneuver: The maneuver battalion task force field trains are not always located in the BSA.
nd: Most unusually, within 4 days, he was transferred to 2 nd Battalion, Border Regiment.
Gurkha: They were raised as the 25th Punjab Infantry or Hazara Gurkha Battalion in 1858.
th: The newly formed 28 th Battalion left Canada in June 1915.
st: Private Thomas Harrison, also of the 1 st Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, was killed on 4 September 1916.

Browse dictionary entries near battalion