Enfilade

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Enfilade \En`fi*lade"\ (?; 277), n. [F., fr. enfiler to thread,
     go trough a street or square, rake with shot; pref. en- (L.
     in) + fil thread. See {File} a row.]
     1. A line or straight passage, or the position of that which
        lies in a straight line. [R.]
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Mil.) A firing in the direction of the length of a
        trench, or a line of parapet or troops, etc.; a raking
        fire.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Enfilade \En`fi*lade"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Enfiladed}; p. pr.
     & vb. n. {Enfilading}.] (Mil.)
     To pierce, scour, or rake with shot in the direction of the
     length of, as a work, or a line of troops. --Campbell.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  enfilade
       n : gunfire directed along the length rather than the breadth of
           a formation [syn: {enfilade fire}]
       v : rake or be in a position to rake with gunfire in a
           lengthwise direction