1706, "small body of soldiers, platoon," from French peloton, derivative of pelote "ball, heap, platoon" (11c.); see platoon (n.).
Entries linking to peloton
platoon n.
1630s, "a small body of soldiers acting together but separate from the main body of troops," from French peloton "platoon, group of people," literally "little ball" (15c.), hence, "agglomeration," diminutive of Old French pelote "ball" (see pellet). Football sense of "group of players trained to act as a unit on the field" is by 1941.