ech|e|lon

ech|e|lon «EHSH uh lon», noun, adjective, verb.

–n.

1. the arrangement of troops, ships, planes, tanks, and other mechanized equipment, or artillery in a steplike formation.

2. Figurative. a level of command or authority. A unit of an army such as a company, battalion, division, or corps, is called an echelon.

3. a unit performing a special task or stationed in a certain position: »

a maintenance echelon, a support echelon.

–adj.

1. of or having to do with an echelon.

2. in the form of an echelon.

–v.t., v.i.

to form into a steplike arrangement: »

The army was echeloned along the road.

╂[< French échelon round of a ladder < Old French échelle ladder < Late Latin scāla stair, slope]