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(), n.[F. troupe, OF. trope, trupe, LL. troppus; of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. orp a hamlet, village, G. dorf a village, dial. G. dorf a meeting. Norw. torp a little farm, a crowd, E. thorp. Cf. Troupe.] 1. A collection of people; a company; a number; a multitude. That which should accompany old age -- As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends -- I must not look to have. Shak. 2. Soldiers, collectively; an army; -- now generally used in the plural. Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars. Shak. His troops moved to victory with the precision of machines. Macaulay. 3. (Mil.) Specifically, a small body of cavalry, light horse, or dragoons, consisting usually of about sixty men, commanded by a captain; the unit of formation of cavalry, corresponding to the company in infantry. Formerly, also, a company of horse artillery; a battery. 4. A company of stageplayers; a troupe. W. Coxe. 5. (Mil.) A particular roll of the drum; a quick march. Troop v. i.[imp. & p. p.Trooped (); p. pr. & vb. n.Trooping.] 1. To move in numbers; to come or gather in crowds or troops. "Armies . . . troop to their standard." Milton. 2. To march on; to go forward in haste. Nor do I, as an enemy to peace, Troop in the throngs of military men. Shak. Troop n.See Boy scout, above. Troop v. t. To troop the colors or colours (Mil.), in the British army, to perform a ceremony consisting essentially in carrying the colors, accompanied by the band and escort, slowly before the troops drawn up in single file and usually in a hollow square, as in London on the sovereign's birthday. スポンサード リンク
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