Geschwader

German

Etymology

16th century, from ge- (collective prefix) +‎ Schwader. The latter is from Middle High German swader, from Italian squadra. The sense “group of birds” (16th century and thus predating aviation) is derived from the cavalry use.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡəˈʃvaːdəʁ/, [ɡəˈʃʋaːdɐ]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Geschwader n (strong, genitive Geschwaders, plural Geschwader)

1. (navy) squadron (formation)
2. (military aviation) a formation, now equivalent to a wing (RAF) or group (USAF), in earlier use (WWI) to a squadron
3. (obsolete) Synonym of Schwadron (“formation of cavalry”)
4. (figurative) a group of animals, chiefly birds

Declension

Declension of Geschwader [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Geschwader	die	Geschwader
genitive	eines	des	Geschwaders	der	Geschwader
dative	einem	dem	Geschwader	den	Geschwadern
accusative	ein	das	Geschwader	die	Geschwader

Derived terms

• Jagdgeschwader
• Kampfgeschwader

Further reading

• (English) Geschwader on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “Geschwader” in Duden online
• “Geschwader” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache