squad

 
Pronunciation: /skwɒd/

noun

[treated as singular or plural]
  • a small group of people having a particular task: an assassination squad
  • a small number of soldiers assembled for drill or assigned to a special task: the demolition squad from No. 6 Troop were blowing up the guns
  • a group of sports players from which a team is chosen: Ireland’s World Cup squad
  • a division of a police force dealing with a particular type of crime: the vice squad

Origin:

mid 17th century: shortening of French escouade, variant of escadre, from Italian squadra 'square'