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de·file²

(dĭ-fīl)

intr.v. de·filed, de·fil·ing, de·files

To move in single file or in files or columns: The soldiers defiled from the fort, arms raised in surrender.

1. A narrow gorge or pass that restricts lateral movement, as of troops.

2. A march in a line.

[French défiler : dé-, away, off (from Old French de-; see DE-) + file, line, file (from Old French filer, to spin thread, march in line; see FILE¹). N., from French défilé, from past participle of défiler.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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