enfilade

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en·fi·lade

 (ĕn′fə-lād′, -läd′)
n.
1. Gunfire directed along the length of a target, such as a column of troops.
2. A target vulnerable to sweeping gunfire.
3. Architecture A linear arrangement of a series of interior doors, as to a suite of rooms, so as to provide an unobstructed view when the doors are open.
tr.v. en·fi·lad·ed, en·fi·lad·ing, en·fi·lades
To rake with gunfire.

[French, series, string, row, from enfiler, to string together, run through, from Old French : en-, in, on; see en-1 + fil, thread (from Latin fīlum; see gwhī- in Indo-European roots).]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

enfilade

(ˌɛnfɪˈleɪd) military
n
(Military) a position or formation subject to fire from a flank along the length of its front
vb (tr)
1. (Military) to subject (a position or formation) to fire from a flank
2. (Military) to position (troops or guns) so as to be able to fire at a flank
[C18: from French: suite, from enfiler to thread on string, from fil thread]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

en•fi•lade

(ˌɛn fəˈleɪd, -ˈlɑd)

n., v. -lad•ed, -lad•ing. n.
1. sweeping gunfire, as from along the length of a line of troops.
2. an axial arrangement, as of doorways connecting a group of rooms, providing a long vista.
v.t.
3. to attack with an enfilade.
[1695–1705; < French <enfil(er) to thread, string < Latin fīlum thread)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

enfilade

- A suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other—or a vista between rows of trees.
See also related terms for rooms.
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

enfilade


Past participle: enfiladed
Gerund: enfilading

Imperative
enfilade
enfilade
Present
I enfilade
you enfilade
he/she/it enfilades
we enfilade
you enfilade
they enfilade
Preterite
I enfiladed
you enfiladed
he/she/it enfiladed
we enfiladed
you enfiladed
they enfiladed
Present Continuous
I am enfilading
you are enfilading
he/she/it is enfilading
we are enfilading
you are enfilading
they are enfilading
Present Perfect
I have enfiladed
you have enfiladed
he/she/it has enfiladed
we have enfiladed
you have enfiladed
they have enfiladed
Past Continuous
I was enfilading
you were enfilading
he/she/it was enfilading
we were enfilading
you were enfilading
they were enfilading
Past Perfect
I had enfiladed
you had enfiladed
he/she/it had enfiladed
we had enfiladed
you had enfiladed
they had enfiladed
Future
I will enfilade
you will enfilade
he/she/it will enfilade
we will enfilade
you will enfilade
they will enfilade
Future Perfect
I will have enfiladed
you will have enfiladed
he/she/it will have enfiladed
we will have enfiladed
you will have enfiladed
they will have enfiladed
Future Continuous
I will be enfilading
you will be enfilading
he/she/it will be enfilading
we will be enfilading
you will be enfilading
they will be enfilading
Present Perfect Continuous
I have been enfilading
you have been enfilading
he/she/it has been enfilading
we have been enfilading
you have been enfilading
they have been enfilading
Future Perfect Continuous
I will have been enfilading
you will have been enfilading
he/she/it will have been enfilading
we will have been enfilading
you will have been enfilading
they will have been enfilading
Past Perfect Continuous
I had been enfilading
you had been enfilading
he/she/it had been enfilading
we had been enfilading
you had been enfilading
they had been enfilading
Conditional
I would enfilade
you would enfilade
he/she/it would enfilade
we would enfilade
you would enfilade
they would enfilade
Past Conditional
I would have enfiladed
you would have enfiladed
he/she/it would have enfiladed
we would have enfiladed
you would have enfiladed
they would have enfiladed
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.enfilade - gunfire directed along the length rather than the breadth of a formation
gunfire, gunshot - the act of shooting a gun; "the gunfire endangered innocent bystanders"; "they retreated in the face of withering enemy fire"
Verb1.enfilade - rake or be in a position to rake with gunfire in a lengthwise direction
rake - sweep the length of; "The gunfire raked the coast"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations

enfilade

[ˌenfɪˈleɪd] VTenfilar
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
References in classic literature ?
In point of grazing, plunging, oblique, or enfilading, or point-blank firing, the English, French, and Prussians have nothing to learn; but their cannon, howitzers, and mortars are mere pocket-pistols compared with the formidable engines of the American artillery.
It was in the form of a square, with bastions and towers at each corner which would permit an enfilading fire along any side of the fort, and was about one hundred and thirty-five feet square on the outside, with walls three feet thick at the bottom and about a foot and a half wide at the top, and fifteen feet high.
Several of us, all more or less connected with the sea, were dining in a small river-hostelry not more than thirty miles from London, and less than twenty from that shallow and dangerous puddle to which our coasting men give the grandiose name of "German Ocean." And through the wide windows we had a view of the Thames; an enfilading view down the Lower Hope Reach.
Not surprisingly, this dominant fortified island quickly slowed the progress of all adjacent units as it poured enfilading fire into the exposed flanks of advancing troops.
Later, he organised and led a bombing attack on the enemy who had established themselves in an advanced position close to our line, and from which they were enfilading his company.