enfilade

views updated May 18 2018

enfilade †suite of apartments, the doors of which are placed opposite to each other; fire sweeping a line of works or troops from one end to the other. XVIII. — F., f. enfiler thread on a string, f. EN-1 + fil FILE2; see -ADE.

Enfilade

views updated Jun 11 2018

Enfilade

ENFILADE. A fire from small arms or artillery that sweeps a line of men or defensive works from end to end, as opposed to "frontal fire." Rake is the naval equivalent.

SEE ALSO Rake.

enfilade

views updated Jun 08 2018

enfilade. French Baroque alignment of all the doorways in a series or suite of rooms so as to create a vista when the doors were open, as in a palace. Doorways were usually placed near the window-walls. The system avoided corridors, any privacy required being provided by e.g. the hangings around a bed.

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