[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

echelon \ech"elon\ e^sh"elo^n, n. f., fr. 'echelle
   ladder, fr. l. scala.
   1. mil. an arrangement of a body of troops when its
      divisions are drawn up in parallel lines each to the right
      or the left of the one in advance of it, like the steps of
      a ladder in position for climbing. also used adjectively;
      as, echelon distance. --upton tactics.
      1913 webster

   2. naval an arrangement of a fleet in a wedge or v form.
      --encyc. dict.
      1913 webster

   echelon lens optics, a large lens constructed in several
      parts or layers, extending in a succession of annular
      rings beyond the central lens; -- used in lighthouses.
      1913 webster
see also:
echelon lens 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

echelon \ech"elon\, v. t. mil.
   to place in echelon; to station divisions of troops in
   echelon.
   1913 webster

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

echelon \ech"elon\, v. i.
   to take position in echelon.
   1913 webster

         change direction to the left, echelon by battalion from
         the right.                               --upton
                                                  tactics.
   1913 webster

[4] : WordNet (r) 2.0

echelon
     n 1: a body of troops arranged in a line
     2: a diffraction grating consisting of a pile of plates of
        equal thickness arranged stepwise with a constant offset

[5] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

31 moby thesaurus words for "echelon":
   battle array, caste, class, close formation, condition, deployment,
   disposition, file, footing, formation, formation flying, hierarchy,
   open order, order, order of battle, place, position,
   power structure, precedence, queue, rank, rate, rating, row,
   sphere, stage, standing, station, status, string, tier

[6] : U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000)

echelon, nj -- u.s. census designated place in new jersey
   population 2000:    10440
   housing units 2000: 5322
   land area 2000:     2.835727 sq. miles 7.344500 sq. km
   water area 2000:    0.012583 sq. miles 0.032591 sq. km
   total area 2000:    2.848310 sq. miles 7.377091 sq. km
   fips code:            19900
   located within:       new jersey nj, fips 34
   location:             39.848180 n, 74.999503 w
   zip codes 1990:    
   note: some zip codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs.
   headwords:
    echelon, nj
    echelon

Echelon >> E Words
Echelon, definition of term: Echelon
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