Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural es·ca·drilles [es-kuh–drilz, es-kuh-drilz; French es-ka–dree-yuh] /ˌɛs kəˈdrɪlz, ˈɛs kəˌdrɪlz; French ɛs kaˈdri yə/.
- a squadron or divisional unit of airplanes: the Lafayette Escadrille of World War I.
- Obsolete. a small naval squadron.
noun
- a French squadron of aircraft, esp in World War I
- a small squadron of ships
from French escadrille, from Spanish escuadrilla, diminutive of escuadra “square, squad, squadron,” from Vulgar Latin *exquadrare, from Latin quadrare “to square” (see quadrant).