enfilade noun & verb. [ɛnfɪ'leɪd] E18.
[French, from enfiler thread on a string, pierce or traverse from end to end, formed as EN-¹ + fil thread: see FILE noun², -ADE.]
A. noun.
1. Military.
a. The situation of a post such that it commands the whole length of a line. Only in E18.
b. Gunfire directed along a line from end to end (also enfilade fire); an act of firing in this way. L18.

2. A suite of rooms with doorways in line with each other; a vista between rows of trees etc. E18.
b. verb trans. Military. Subject to enfilade; cover the whole length of (a target) with a gun or guns. E18.
■ Clive James The Germans installed concrete gun emplacements to enfilade the beaches.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲