Crossword Dictionary
troop
troop - n
a group of soldiers
a cavalry unit corresponding to an infantry company
A troop is a military sub-subunit, originally a small formation of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron. In many armies a troop is the equivalent element to the infantry section or platoon. Exceptions are the US Cavalry and the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery where a troop is a subunit comparable to an infantry company or artillery battery. Historically the remainder of the Royal Horse Artillery used the term Troop in the same manner however they are now aligned with the rest of the Royal Regiment of Artillery in referring to Troops as subordinate to artillery batteries.
A cavalry soldier of private rank is called a trooper in many Commonwealth armies (abbreviated "Tpr", not to be confused with "trouper").
A related sense of the term "troops" refers to members of the military collectively, as in "the troops".
TROOPER
trooper - n
a mounted policeman
Trooper (abbr. Tpr) from the French "troupier" is the equivalent rank to private in a regiment with a cavalry tradition in the British Army and many other Commonwealth armies, including those of Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand; it is also used by the Irish Army.
In the British Army the Royal Tank Regiment, although not a former cavalry unit also uses the term Trooper as do the Special Air Service and Honourable Artillery Company. Airtrooper (Atpr) is used in the Army Air Corps.
Cavalry units are organized into squadrons, further divided into troops, hence a trooper is a member of a troop. "Trooper" can also be used colloquially to mean any cavalry soldier (although not usually an officer).
Trooper is a rank used by several civilian state law enforcement organizations in the United States. In its plural form, troopers, it generally refers to sworn members of a state law enforcement agency, state police, state highway patrol, or state department of public safety, even though those officers may not necessarily be of the rank of trooper.
Early Australian police forces had officers termed troopers, typically mounted police. For example, the classic Australian folk song "Waltzing Matilda" contains the line "Down came the troopers, one, two, three," referring to three mounted police who had come to arrest the swagman. The term is no longer in current usage in Australia.
In the Louisiana State Police, Trooper is a rank below Trooper First Class, and above Cadet. The insignia for this rank consists of a gold colored 'TPR' collar pin worn on the wearer's right lapel. Cadets who complete the state police academy are automatically promoted to Trooper. The title of address is "Trooper".
Wildlife Trooper Is a rank commonly used in the western United States associated with the duties of a Game Warden. Currently this title is used in the states of Oregon and Alaska.