Obs. [Sp. camarada, lit. ‘roomful’: see COMRADE.]
1. A company of soldiers messing or lodging together. 2. One of such a company in his relation to the others; a comrade.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, I. ii. 9. With his Camaradas, hee is to demeane himself, sober, quiet, and friendly. Ibid., 10. Pescennius Niger did condemne vnto death, a whole Camarada of Soldiers. Ibid., Gloss. 249. Camarada, a Spanish word, is a small number of 11 or 12 soldiers, and is the one halfe of a squadra, being vnited together in their lodging.
