[f. OF. turme, torme (15th c. in Godef.), ad. L. turma a troop, squadron.] A body or band of people, esp. a troop of horsemen; spec. a troop of thirty or thirty-two horsemen (= L. turma).
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 47 b/1. Iacob was sore aferde thenne and devyded his companye in to tweyne turmes.
c. 1520. Barclay, Jugurth (1557), 41. One bande or cohorte of Lumbardes and twoo turmes, that is to saye three score Thraciens.
1533. Bellenden, Livy, II. xx. (S.T.S.), I. 210. But dout þai had gevin bakkis, war nocht marcus fabius … come on ane spedy horss, with ane certane turmys of horsmen.
1671. Milton, P. R., IV. 66. Legions and Cohorts, turmes of horse and wings.
1800–24. Campbell, Dead Eagle, 18. Rome array’d her turms And cohorts for the conquest of the world.
