1
Stage 1 of 4
scalae
Latin · ancient
"ladder, steps"
the plural word for stairs or a ladder
2
Stage 2 of 4
eschiele
Old French · medieval
"a ladder"
kept the sense of a ladder
3
Stage 3 of 4
echelon
French · medieval
"a rung; a staggered troop formation"
named a single rung, then a step-like, staggered arrangement of troops
4
Stage 4 of 4
echelon
English · 1796-1914
"a level or rank within an organization"
entered for the military formation, later widened to any level or rank within a hierarchy
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