defile1 [d?'f??l]
¦ verb sully, mar, or spoil.
?desecrate or profane (something sacred).
?archaic rape or sexually assault (a woman).
Derivatives
defilement noun
defiler noun
Origin
ME: alt. of obs. defoul, from OFr. defouler 'trample down', influenced by obs. befile 'befoul, defile'.
--------
defile2 [d?'f??l]
¦ noun also 'di:f??l a steep-sided narrow gorge or passage (originally one requiring troops to march in single file).
¦ verb archaic (of troops) march in single file.
Origin
C17: from Fr. defile (n.), defiler (v.), from de 'away from' + file 'column, file'.