[f. prec. sb.]
† 1. trans. To set (trees) so as to form an enfilade. Obs. (nonce-use.)
1725. Bradley, Fam. Dict., s.v. Quincunx, Take care that the trees be well squar’d or laid out by a line, and, as it were, enfiladed one with another.
2. Mil. To subject to an enfilade; to ‘rake’ or to be in a position to ‘rake’ (a line of fortification, a line of troops, a road. etc.) from end to end with a fire in the direction of its length.
1706. Phillips, Enfilade, or Enfile the Courtin, Rampart, &c., is to scour or sweep the whole length of such a Work with the Shot.
a. 1755. Expedition to Carthagena (J.). The avenues, being cut through the wood in right lines, were enfiladed by the Spanish cannon.
1772. Simes, Mil. Guide, A work is said to be enfiladed when a gun can be fired into it, so that the shot may go all along the inside of the parapet.
1828. Blackw. Mag., XXIV. 357/1. This success made it an operation of no difficulty to enfilade the enemy’s position on the left bank.
1846. Prescott, Ferd. & Is., I. v. 237. The bridge … was enfiladed by the enemy’s cannon.
1879. Low, Jrnl. Gen. Abbott, iv. 333. Our course … was completely enfiladed by a stone breastwork.
b. transf.
a. 1845. Barham, Ingol. Leg. (1877), 413. The level beams of the rising or setting sun as they happened to enfilade the gorge.
1848. Thackeray, Bk. Snobs (1872), 119. The bow-window of the Club … enfilades Pall Mall.
Hence Enfiladed ppl. a., Enfilading ppl. a.
1812. Examiner, 13 Sept., 581/1. Two enfiladed batteries.
1828. J. M. Spearman, Brit. Gunner, 33. The continued fire of the first or enfilading batteries.
1866. Harvard Mem. Biog. N. L. Abbott, II. 101. The Twentieth … advanced … under an enfilading fire of artillery.
