platoon

noun

• a subdivision of a company of soldiers, usually forming a tactical unit that is commanded by a subaltern or lieutenant and divided into three sections: [as modifier]:the platoon commander
• a group of people acting together:platoons of sharp lawyers
• [as modifier] (in South Africa) denoting a school or schooling system in which two separate sets of teachers and pupils use the same buildings, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• [as modifier] Baseball engaged in platooning:a platoon player

verb

• 1 [with object] (in South Africa) apply the platoon system to (a school): it has been found necessary to platoon 14 schools

• 2 [with object] Baseball use the strategy of alternating (a pair of players or one player with another) in a specified field position in successive games: at catcher we platooned Petralli and Stanley