Military units of soldiers, usually containing about 30-50 people and led by a single officer; or any small organized group.
From French 'peloton' meaning 'a little ball,' because soldiers in these formations were grouped together in tight clusters. The word evolved to mean a subdivision of a company.
The word 'peloton' is still used today in professional cycling for the main pack of riders—same idea of a tight group moving together!
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