brɪˈɡeɪd n. & v. --n. 1
Mil. a a
subdivision of an
army. b a
British infantry unit consisting usu. of 3 battalions
and forming
part of a
division. c a corresponding armoured unit. 2 an organized or uniformed
band of workers (fire brigade). 3 colloq.
any group of
people with a
characteristic in
common (the couldn't-care-less brigade). --v.tr.
form into a brigade. [F f.
It. brigata
company f. brigare be
busy with f. briga strife]