The term troop has several different meanings, depending on context. It derives from the middle French word Troupe (1540's), which present-day means an actor or other form of entertainer, typically one with long experience.[1] The verb Troop means "to assemble" or "to march" and the noun, in it's simplest form, means "body of soldiers."[2] Troop also generally refers to a small military formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron.[3] In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. A cavalry soldier of private rank is called a trooper in many Commonwealth armies and is usually abbreviated as "Tpr."
However, in this particular definition, term "troop" or its plural form "troops" refers to members of the military as a collective, namely as in "the troops" - a body of soldiers.[3]
References / notes
Glossary of words and phrases
The above term is listed in our glossary of words and phrases of the Armed Forces of Great Britain during the Great War. Included are trench slang, service terms, expressions in everyday use, nicknames, the titles and origins of British and Commonwealth Regiments, and warfare in general. These words and phrases are contemporary to the war, which is reflected in the language used. They have been transcribed from three primary sources (see Contents). Feel free to expand upon and improve this content.
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