/ skwɒd; NAmE skwɑːd/ noun [ C +sing./pl. v . ]
1.
a section of a police force that deals with a particular type of crime :
the drugs / fraud, etc. squad
—see also flying squad
2.
( in sport ) a group of players, runners, etc. from which a team is chosen for a particular game or match :
the Olympic / national squad
They still have not named their squad for the World Cup qualifier.
3.
a small group of soldiers working or being trained together
—see also firing squad
4.
a group of people who have a particular task
—see also death squad , hit squad
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: shortening of French escouade , variant of escadre , from Italian squadra square.