I. ˈe-shə-ˌlän 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
II. verb
Date: circa 1860
transitive verb
: to form or arrange in an echelon
intransitive verb
: to take position in an echelon