enfilade Hear it!

enfilade definition

en·fi·lade (en′fə lād′, en′fə lād′)

noun

  1. gunfire, from either flank, directed along the length of a column or line of troops
  2. a disposition or placement of troops that makes them vulnerable to such fire

Etymology: Fr < enfiler, to thread, string, rake with fire < OFr < en- (L in) + fil (L filum), a thread

transitive verb enfiladed -·lad′ed, enfilading -·lad′·ing

to direct such gunfire at

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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