Obs. Also 4 eschel, 5 eschelle. [a. OF. eschele (mod.F. échelle), eschiele, believed to be an altered form of eschiere, corresp. to It. schiera, of Teut. origin: cf. OHG. skara (MHG. schar, Ger. schaar).] A troop, squadron (of soldiers); rarely a company (of travellers).
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 7580. With xv thousand in on eschele.
1375. Barbour, Bruce, VIII. 218. In twa eschelis ordanit he had The folk that he had in leding.
c. 1425. Wyntoun, Cron., VIII. xl. 155. Þe worthy men Ðare Folk … arayid þen, And delt þame in-til Eschelis thre.
c. 1460. Towneley Myst., 47. (Jacob loq.) Rachelle, stand thou in the last eschelle.
