History/Historical. a convoy of canoes, sleds, wagons, or pack animals, esp. as used to supply trappers in the 18th- and 19th-century Canadian and U.S. fur trade.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to form into a brigade.
7.
to group together.
Origin: 1630–40; < F < OIt brigata company of soldiers, orig. group, band, equiv. to brig(are) prob. to associate (with), be together (obs. sense) (see brigand) + -ata-ade1
A military unit consisting of a variable number of combat battalions or regiments.
A U.S. Army administrative and tactical unit composed of a headquarters unit, at least one unit of infantry or armor or both, and designated support units. A brigade can be commanded by a brigadier general or by a colonel.
A group of persons organized for a specific purpose: formed a bucket brigade to carry water to the fire.
tr.v.
bri·gad·ed, bri·gad·ing, bri·gades To form into a brigade.
[French, from Old French, company, from Old Italian brigata, from brigare, to fight, from briga, strife, of Celtic origin; see gwerə-1 in Indo-European roots.]
[bri-geyd] 
noun, verb, -gad⋅ed, -gad⋅ing.