A regiment of the Roman army, the number of men composing which differed at different times. It originally consisted of three thousand men, but in the time of Christ consisted of six thousand, exclusive of horsemen, who were in number a tenth of the foot-men. The word is used (Matthew 26:53; Mark 5:9) to express simply a great multitude.

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A body of foot soldiers and cavalry consisting of different numbers at different periods, -- from about four thousand to about six thousand men, -- the cavalry being about one tenth.

2. (n.) A military force; an army; military bands.

3. (n.) A great number; a multitude.

4. (n.) A group of orders inferior to a class.