ENFILADE


Meaning of ENFILADE in English

I. ˈenfəˌlād, -äd, -ȧd also ˈän...äd or ˈän...ȧd; ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˈ ̷ ̷ noun

( -s )

Etymology: French, series, row, military enfilade, from enfiler to thread, string, rake with gunfire in a lengthwise direction (from Old French, to thread, from en- en- (I) + fil, n., thread) + -ade — more at file

1. : arrangement (as of rooms, doorways, trees) in opposite and parallel rows

2.

a. : a condition permitting the delivery of fire at an objective (as a trench or line of troops) from a point on or near the prolongation of its longest axis

b. : a position favorable for enfilade firing

II. transitive verb

( -ed/-ing/-s )

1. : to arrange (as trees or rooms) to form an enfilade

2. : to rake or be in a position to rake (as a fortification or column of troops) with gunfire in a lengthwise direction

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.