From Middle English defilen, alteration (due to Middle English defoulen, defoilen) of Middle English befilen, from Old English befȳlan, from Proto-West Germanic *bi- + *fūlijan. Equivalent to de-- + file. Cognate with Dutch bevuilen ("to defile, soil"). More at de-, file, be-, and foul.
Earlier defilee, from French défilé, from défiler, from file.
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