p. pr. filer; pref. de-, for des- (L.
dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row.)
To march off in a line, file by file; to file off.
defile , v. t. (Mil.) Sameas Defilade.
defile (defil or defil;277), n. (Cf. F. defile, fr.
defiler to defile.) 1. Any narrow
passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a
narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks,
etc.
2. (Mil.) The act of defilading a
fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the
interior. See Defilade.
defile (defil), v. t.(OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF.
defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see
Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen to
foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See
File to defile, Foul, Defoul.)
1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to
dirty; to befoul; to pollute.
They that touch pitch will be
defiled.
Shak.
2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as
reputation; to taint.
He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age,
however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty
hands.
Swift.
3. To injure in purity of character; to
corrupt.
Defile not yourselves with the idols of
Egypt.
Ezek. xx. 7.
4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to
violate.
The husband murderd and the wife
defiled.
Prior.
5. To make ceremonially unclean; to
pollute.
That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he
shall not eat to defile therewith.
Lev. xxii.
8.
