“troop” – English explanatory dictionary

noun a large group of people ○ She took a troop of schoolchildren to visit the museum. [ troops (NOTE: Do not confuse with troupe.) ■ verb to go all together in a group ○ After the play the whole cast trooped off to the local restaurant. ○ All the students trooped into the hall. ■ adj referring to soldiers

n. [F. troupe, OF. trope, trupe, LL. troppus; of uncertain origin; cf. Icel. þorp a hamlet, village, G. dorf a village, dial. G. dorf a meeting. Norw. torp a little farm, a crowd, E. thorp. Cf. Troupe.]
1. A collection of people; a company; a number; a multitude. “That which should accompany old age —
As honor, love, obedience, troops of friends —
I must not look to have.” Shak.
2. Soldiers, collectively; an army; — now generally used in the plural. “Farewell the plumed troop, and the big wars.” Shak. “His troops moved to victory with the precision of machines.” Macaulay.
3. (Mil.) Specifically, a small body of cavalry, light horse, or dragoons, consisting usually of about sixty men, commanded by a captain; the unit of formation of cavalry, corresponding to the company in infantry. Formerly, also a company of horse artillery; a battery.
4. A company of stageplayers; a troupe. W. Coxe.
5. (Mil.) A particular roll of the drum; a quick march.

v. i. [imp. & p. p. Trooped p. pr. & vb. n. Trooping.]
1. To move in numbers; to come or gather in crowds or troops. ´Armies … troop to their standard.´ Milton.
2. To march on; to go forward in haste. “Nor do I, as an enemy to peace,
Troop in the throngs of military men.” Shak.

n. See Boy scout, above.

v. t. — To troop the colors or colours (Mil.), in the British army, to perform a ceremony consisting essentially in carrying the colors, accompanied by the band and escort, slowly before the troops drawn up in single file and usually in a hollow square, as in London on the sovereign’s birthday.