De*file" (d&esl;*fīl"), v. i.
[imp. & p. p. Defiled (-fīld");
p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling.] [F.
défiler; pref. dé-, 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.
De*file", v. t. (Mil.) Same
as Defilade.
De*file" (d&esl;*fīl" or dē"fīl;
277), n. [Cf. F. défilé, fr.
défiler 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.
De*file" (d&esl;*fīl"), 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 murder'd 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.
