De*ploy" (?), v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Deployed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deploying.] [F. déployer; pref. dé&?; = dés (L. dis) + ployer, equiv. to plier to fold, fr. L. plicare. See Ply, and cf. Display.] (Mil.) To open out; to unfold; to spread out (a body of troops) in such a way that they shall display a wider front and less depth; -- the reverse of ploy; as, to deploy a column of troops into line of battle.

{ De*ploy" (?), De*ploy"ment (?), } n. (Mil.) The act of deploying; a spreading out of a body of men in order to extend their front. Wilhelm.

Deployments . . . which cause the soldier to turn his back to the enemy are not suited to war.