n.
Pronunciation: pl ə - ' tün, pla-
Function: noun
Etymology: French peloton small detachment, literally, ball, from Middle French pelote little ball ― more at PELLET
Date: 1637
1 : a subdivision of a company-sized military unit normally consisting of two or more squads or sections
2 : a group of persons sharing a common characteristic or activity <a platoon of waiters> especially : a group of football players who are trained for either offense or defense and are sent into or withdrawn from the game as a body