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- Dictionaryenfilade/ˌɛnfɪˈleɪd/
noun
- 1. a volley of gunfire directed along a line from end to end: "they were mown down by an enfilade of artillery"
- 2. a suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other.
verb
- 1. direct a volley of gunfire along the length of (a target): "a sweeping crossfire enfiladed our riflemen"
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Enfilade can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means an interconnected group of rooms or gunfire along a battle line. As a verb, it means to rake with gunfire in a lengthwise direction.
Enfilade and defilade are concepts in military tactics used to describe a military formation's exposure to enemy fire. A formation or position is "in enfilade" if weapon fire can be directed along its longest axis.
Enfilade definition: a position of works, troops, etc., making them subject to a sweeping fire from along the length of a line of troops, a trench, a battery, etc.. See examples of ENFILADE used in a sentence.
In architecture, an enfilade is a series of rooms formally aligned with each other. This was a common feature in grand European architecture from the Baroque period onward, although there are earlier examples, such as the Vatican stanze.
noun. 1. a position or formation subject to fire from a flank along the length of its front. verb (transitive) 2. to subject (a position or formation) to fire from a flank. 3. to position (troops or guns) so as to be able to fire at a flank. Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers. Word origin.
Jul 9, 2024 · Noun. [edit] enfilade (plural enfilades) A line or straight passage, or the position of that which lies in a straight line. Gunfire directed along the length of a target. Antonym: defilade. (architecture) A series of doors that provide a vista when open. Synonyms. [edit] flanking fire. raking fire. Translations.
These are words and phrases related to enfilade. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page.
