Brewer's: Enfilade

(French) means literally to spin out; to put thread in [a needle], as enfiler une aiguille; to string beads by putting them on a thread, as enfiler des perles. Soldiers being compared to thread, we get the following metaphors: to go through a place as thread through a needle—to string artillery by placing it in a line and directing it against an enemy; hence, to scour or rake with shot.

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