Troop and Troupe Split From One Word
A troop is a group of soldiers. Its twin troupe means a group of performers, and the spellings divide the meanings.
A troop is a group of soldiers, and *troops* means armed forces generally. *Troupe* is the same French word borrowed a second time, and English uses the spelling to divide the meanings: soldiers are a troop, performers are a troupe. The distinction is purely conventional and rests on nothing but spelling. A troop is also a Scout unit and the collective noun for baboons, and note that *troops* usually counts individual soldiers rather than groups.
- A group of soldiers. *A cavalry troop.*
- Troupe — performers. *A dance troupe.*
- A Scout unit. *A Scout troop.*
- A group of baboons. *A troop of baboons.*
- French — *troupe*. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | troop | A troop. |
| Plural | troops | Troops. |
| Doublet | troupe | A troupe. |
| Verb | troop | They trooped in. |
| Agent | trooper | A trooper. |
- Five hundred troops were deployed.Military.
- The troupe toured for a year.Performers.
- A troop of baboons crossed the road.Animals.
Doublets divided by spelling
- Troop / troupe — soldiers and performers
- Person / parson — the same word, now separate roles
- Human / humane — one root, two meanings
- Shadow / shade — Old English forms of one word
- Of / off — originally the same word, split by stress
French *troupe*, a company or band, from Vulgar Latin *troppus*, a flock, possibly from a Frankish source.
Troop or troupe?
Troop for soldiers and Scouts, troupe for performers. They are the same French word borrowed twice.
Does troops mean groups or individuals?
Usually individuals. Five hundred troops means five hundred soldiers, not five hundred units.