enfilade

/,enfi'leid/

Thân thiện

A row of cannons fires an enfilade across the open battlefield.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • Gunfire directed along the length of a formation: In military terminology, an enfilade is a line of fire that rakes a target, such as a trench, column, or fortification, along its longest axis. This positioning makes the fire exceptionally effective.

2. Verb:

   • To rake with gunfire in a lengthwise direction: The action of directing fire so that it sweeps along the length of a target formation or position.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The machine gun nest was positioned to deliver a deadly enfilade down the length of the enemy trench.*
  • The attacking troops were caught in a brutal enfilade from the fortified hillside.*

• Verb:

  • The artillery was able to enfilade the entire column from its flanking position.*
  • A well-placed bunker can enfilade the approach to the bridge.*

Advanced Usage

• "Enfilade fire": This is a common collocation specifying the type of gunfire.
  • The defenders used enfilade fire to devastating effect against the advancing infantry.

Variants and Related Words

• Enfilading (adj): Describing fire or a position that allows for enfilade.
  • They took heavy casualties from enfilading machine-gun fire.

Synonyms

• Rake (verb): To sweep with gunfire.
• Flanking fire (noun): Fire directed at the side or flank of a formation, often overlapping with the concept of enfilade.

Notes on Meaning

The core concept is longitudinal alignment. Whether used as a noun or a verb, "enfilade" specifically refers to the tactical advantage gained by firing along the long dimension of a target, as opposed to firing across it (which is called "defilade" fire). Its usage is almost exclusively military or historical.

Học thuật

Noun

1. gunfire directed along the length rather than the breadth of a formation

Verb

1. rake or be in a position to rake with gunfire in a lengthwise direction

Từ đồng nghĩa

• enfilade fire