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DictionaryRoot: en-
Old French

en-

in, into; make or put into a state

Forms

  • en-
  • em- — The final sound changes before b, p, or m.

Origin

Old French en- chiefly continues Latin in-, “in, into.”

Note

An abstract state can be treated like a place that something enters.

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noun / verb

enfilade

EN-fuh-layd/ˈɛnfəˌleɪd/

Gunfire directed along the length of a target formation.

The exposed column comes under enfilade from guns at its head.

An elevated oblique view of a mounted gun firing from one end of a straight row of plain target panels, making clear that the fire travels along the row rather than across it.
Etymology
enOld Frenchin, into; make or put into a state
+filOld Frenchthread
+adeFrenchaction or result

The image is of things strung on a thread, forming a straight line. From rows of things, enfilade developed its military meaning of gunfire passing down the full length of a target line.

More examples

  • The trench's straight layout leaves its defenders exposed to enfilade.
  • The gun on the ridge enfilades the enemy line.
  • Fire from the bridge enfiladed the column as it advanced.

Forms

enfilade · enfilades · enfiladed · enfilading

Similar words

rake
Also means sweep with gunfire, without requiring lengthwise alignment.
strafe
Usually describes low-flying aircraft attacking ground targets with gunfire.