squadron vs troop

squadron

noun
  • A body of cavalry comprising two companies or troops, averaging from one hundred and twenty to two hundred soldiers. 

  • A tactical air force unit; consists of at least two flights; multiple squadrons make up a group or wing (depending on particular air force). 

  • A spaceforce unit; multiple squadrons make up an operations delta or a support garrison. 

  • A body of infantrymen made up of several platoons, averaging from eighty to one hundred and fifty men, and led by a captain or a major. 

  • A detachment of vessels employed on any particular service or station, under the command of the senior officer 

verb
  • To divide up into squadrons. 

troop

noun
  • A small unit of cavalry or armour commanded by a captain, corresponding to a platoon or company of infantry. 

  • Mushrooms that are in a close group but not close enough to be called a cluster. 

  • A group of meerkat families living together. 

  • A collection of people; a number; a multitude (in general). 

  • A company of actors; a troupe. 

  • A chapter of a national girl or boy scouts organization, consisting of one or more patrols of 6 to 8 youngsters each. 

  • A particular roll of the drum; a quick march. 

  • A group of baboons. 

  • A group of soldiers; military forces. 

  • A detachment of soldiers or police, especially horse artillery, armour, or state troopers. 

  • An individual soldier or member of a military force. 

verb
  • To march on; to go forward in haste. 

  • To move in numbers; to come or gather in crowds or troops. 

  • To move or march as if in a crowd. 

How often have the words squadron and troop occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )