n. & v.
n. 1 Mil. a a subdivision of an army. b a British infantry unit consisting usu. of 3 battalions and forming part of a division. c a corresponding armoured unit. 2 an organized or uniformed band of workers (fire brigade). 3 colloq. any group of people with a characteristic in common (the couldn't-care-less brigade).
v.tr. form into a brigade.
[ F f. It. brigata company f. brigare be busy with f. briga strife ]