noun / verb
defile
A narrow passage through which people move in a line.
The hikers enter a rocky defile and continue in single file.
Etymology
French défiler meant to march in a line. A narrow passage forces people or troops into that arrangement, giving the movement’s name to the passage itself.
More examples
- The map shows two defiles through the ridge.
- A fallen tree blocks the entrance to the defile.
- The soldiers defile through the narrow gate.
Forms
defile · defiles · defiled · defiling