Phalanx

phalanx
    n 1: any of the bones of the fingers or toes
    2: any closely ranked crowd of people
    3: a body of troops in close array
    

Phalanx \Pha"lanx\, n.; pl. {Phalanxes}, L. {Phalanges}. [L.,
   from Gr. fa`lagx.]
   1. (Gr. Antiq.) A body of heavy-armed infantry formed in
      ranks and files close and deep. There were several
      different arrangements, the phalanx varying in depth from
      four to twenty-five or more ranks of men. "In cubic
      phalanx firm advanced." --Milton.
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            The Grecian phalanx, moveless as a tower. --Pope.
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   2. Any body of troops or men formed in close array, or any
      combination of people distinguished for firmness and
      solidity of a union.
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            At present they formed a united phalanx. --Macaulay.
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            The sheep recumbent, and the sheep that grazed,
            All huddling into phalanx, stood and gazed.
                                                  --Cowper.
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   3. A Fourierite community; a phalanstery.
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   4. (Anat.) One of the digital bones of the hand or foot,
      beyond the metacarpus or metatarsus; an internode.
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   5. [pl. {Phalanges}.] (Bot.) A group or bundle of stamens, as
      in polyadelphous flowers.
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75 Moby Thesaurus words for "phalanx":
      KP, age group, army, army group, band, battalion, battery,
      battle group, bevy, body, brigade, bunch, cabal, cadre, cast,
      clique, cohort, column, combat command, combat team, company,
      complement, contingent, corps, coterie, covey, crew, crowd,
      detachment, detail, division, faction, field army, field train,
      file, fleet, flying column, gang, garrison, group, grouping,
      groupment, in-group, junta, kitchen police, legion, maniple, mob,
      movement, organization, out-group, outfit, pack, party, peer group,
      platoon, posse, rank, regiment, salon, section, set, squad,
      squadron, stable, string, tactical unit, task force, team, train,
      tribe, troop, troupe, unit, wing