defile

Meanings

Verb

Noun

  • A narrow way or passage, e.g. between mountains.
  • A single file, such as of soldiers.
  • The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior.

Related

Similar words

Origin

  • 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.

Modern English dictionary

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