SQUADRON  , a military and

naval term for a body of mounted troops or a detachment of war vessels . The word is derived from squadra, a square, as a military term, according to Florio, applied to a " certain part of a company of souldiers of 20 0: 25 whose chief e was a corporal," and so called no doubt as being formed on parade or in battle array in squares . Squadra, square, is derived from the Low Latin exquadrare, an intensive form of quadrare (quadrus, four-cornered, quattuor, four) . In military usage the term "squadron" is applied to the principal units into which a cavalry regiment is divided, corresponding to the company in an infantry battalion . The normal modern division of a cavalry regiment is into four squadrons of two to four troops each, this squadron numbering 120 to 200 men (see CAVALRY) . In naval usage a squadron is a group of vessels either as forming one of the divisions of a fleet or as a separate detachment under a flag officer despatched on special service . In military use, "squad" (a shortened form of " squadron ") is used of any small detachment of men detailed for drill, fatigue or other duty .