‘Troop’ usage
To the editor:
I agree with Eva Edmands, who states she dislikes the use of the word “troops” when referring to individual soldiers. The words heading an article states, “16 troops confirmed dead …” (July 1), says something vastly different to me than if it had said “16 troopers.” Maybe the writers are using newer dictionaries, but my Webster’s Dictionary includes the following definitions of a “troop”: a collection of people, a quantity, a lot, a troupe (or company) of soldiers collectively, a division, a squadron, a group. It shows the definition of a “trooper” as one cavalry man.
Laurel Havlicek,
Lawrence