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dg Diamond Enthusiast	Posted I'm watching the Tour de France, and I understand the peloton is the lead group of riders. But where does this word come from? Is it a French word? Is it used to describe other things outside cycling?
	Posts: 4377 | Location: ~ | Registered: 10-27-06

FredPuli Diamond Enthusiast 2005 Enthusiast of the Year

Posted Hide Post It's French for a cluster or group.It's also the word for a platoon or squad in the army.Our word 'platoon' comes from it. In sport, in English, it's only used in cycling. It has a wider sporting usage in French,being used for any group of runners or riders. The OED helpfully says that it's from C11 French 'pelote' meaning a ball, a heap or a platoon and ultimately is from Latin 'pilotta' meaning a small ball [which it can mean in French, in the sense of a small ball of wool]

Posts: 11798 | Location: Newmarket, UK/ Antibes, S.France | Registered: 07-14-02

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dg Diamond Enthusiast	Posted Hide Post Thank you. (I'm only watching it for the scenary, btw, lest someone thinks I suddenly developed an interest in sport. )
	Posts: 4377 | Location: ~ | Registered: 10-27-06

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Mozart Diamond Enthusiast 2009 Enthusiast of the Year	Posted Hide Post Also..."Le peloton d'exécution" see here
	Posts: 7504 | Location: u.s.a, south Florida | Registered: 06-03-02

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