/beuh tal"yeuhn/ , n.
1. Mil. a ground force unit composed of a headquarters and two or more companies or similar units.
2. an army in battle array.
3. Often, battalions . a large number of persons or things; force: battalions of bureaucrats.
[ 1580-90; bataillon battaglione large squadron of soldiers, equiv. to battagli ( a ) BATTAGLIA + -one aug. suffix ]