[dɪˈfʌɪl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- damage the purity or appearance of; mar or spoil
(e.g: the land was defiled by a previous owner)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English: alteration of obsolete defoul, from Old French defouler ‘trample down’, influenced by obsolete befile ‘befoul, defile’

[dɪˈfʌɪl], (Noun)

Definitions:
- a steep-sided narrow gorge or passage (originally one requiring troops to march in single file)
(e.g: the twisting track wormed its way up a defile to level ground)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 17th century: from French défilé (noun), défiler (verb), from dé ‘away from’ + file ‘column, file’

[dɪˈfʌɪl], (Verb)

Definitions:
- (of troops) march in single file
(e.g: we emerged after defiling through the mountainsides)


Phrases:

Origin:
late 17th century: from French défilé (noun), défiler (verb), from dé ‘away from’ + file ‘column, file’