echelon
UK: ˈeʃ.ə.lɒn | US: ˈeʃ.ə.lɑːn
n. a level or rank in an organization, profession, or society
n. a military formation in which units are arranged diagonally
n. a steplike arrangement of objects or data
The word "echelon" originates from the French échelon, meaning "rung of a ladder," derived from the Old French eschelon (from eschiele, "ladder"). The Latin root scala (ladder) underpins this progression. The term evolved metaphorically to describe hierarchical levels (like ladder rungs) in organizations and later adopted in military contexts to describe staggered troop formations. The morpheme echel preserves the "ladder" concept, while -on functions as a noun-forming suffix.
She quickly rose through the echelons of corporate management.
The tanks advanced in echelon formation across the battlefield.
The research focused on the upper echelons of income distribution.
Birds flew in a diagonal echelon to conserve energy.
His ideas influenced thinkers across multiple academic echelons.