n.
Pronunciation: ' e-sh ə - ˌ län
Function: 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 echelon s of the bureaucracy>