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team

1. A group of young animals, especially of young ducks; a brood; a litter. A team of ducklings about her. (Holland)

2. Hence, a number of animals moving together. A long team of snowy swans on high. (Dryden)

3. Two or more horses, oxen, or other beasts harnessed to the same vehicle for drawing, as to a coach, wagon, sled, or the like. A team of dolphins. To take his team and till the earth. (Piers Plowman) It happened almost every day that coaches stuck fast, until a team of cattle could be procured from some neighboring farm to tug them out of the slough. (Macaulay)

4. A number of persons associated together in any work; a gang; especially, a number of persons selected to contend on one side in a match, or a series of matches, in a cricket, football, rowing, etc.

5. (Science: zoology) A flock of wild ducks.

6. A royalty or privilege granted by royal charter to a lord of a manor, of having, keeping, and judging in his court, his bondmen, neifes, and villains, and their offspring, or suit, that is, goods and chattels, and appurtenances thereto.

Origin: OE. Tem, team, AS. Team, offspring, progeny, race of descendants, family; akin to D. Toom a bridle, LG. Toom progeny, team, bridle, G. Zaum a bridle, zeugen to beget, Icel. Taumr to rein, bridle, Dan. Tomme, Sw. Tom, and also to E. Tow to drag, tug to draw. 64. See Tug, and cf. Teem to bear.