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78:(the width of the formation is the number of files), so, if a column of soldiers approaches a narrow pass, the formation must narrow, and so the files on the outside must be ordered to the rear (or to some other position) so that the column has fewer files and more ranks. The French verb for this order is
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was fought in the defile formed by the wood of
Agincourt and that of Tramecourt, at the northern exit of which the army under d'Albret, constable of France, had placed itself so as to bar the way to Calais against the English
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Defiles of military significance can also be formed by other physical features that flank a pass or path and cause it to narrow, for example impassable woods and rivers. At the
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Some defiles have a permanent strategic importance and become known by that term in military literature. For example, the military historian
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or with a narrow front. On emerging from a defile (or something similar) into open country, soldiers are said to "
82:, from which the English verb comes, as does the physical description for a valley that forces this manoeuvre.
54:. The term originates from a military description of a route through which troops can march only in a narrow
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161: – Terrain feature formed by two parallel ridges or spurs with low ground in between
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167: – Landform created by running water and/or mass movement eroding sharply into soil
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names such a geographic feature in France near the frontier with
Germany in his book
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for the French army and aided the
English in their victory over the French.
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179: – Low area between hills, often with a river running through it
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290:, Fourth Edition, Birmingham, 34 Wheeleys Road. Supplement section (
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89:, a defile formed by the woods of Agincourt and Forecourt caused a
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74:(the depth of the formation is the number of ranks) and
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In a traditional military formation, soldiers march in
185: – Geological feature formed through a mountain
149: – 480 BC engagement of the Greco-Persian Wars
191: – Topographic gap made by a former waterway
173: – Small valley, often due to stream erosion
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143: – 1847 battle of the Mexican–American War
16:Narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills
197: – Cold War strategically important area
269:Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition
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23:The Defile of l'Ecluse viewed from
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155: – Deep chasm between cliffs
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108:On the following day, General
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112:fell back upon the Defile of
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252:Oxford English Dictionary
232:Oxford English Dictionary
218:Oxford English Dictionary
238:(17th c.), ppl. n. from
288:Waterloo Campaign 1815
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102:Waterloo Campaign 1815
27:
147:Battle of Thermopylae
141:Battle of Cerro Gordo
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87:Battle of Agincourt
286:Siborne, William.
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234:"defile" "F.
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159:Draw (terrain)
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38:is a narrow
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91:choke point
277:forces..."
274:The battle
215:"Defile".
202:References
66:Background
254:"defile"
242:to DEFILE
195:Fulda Gap
183:Water gap
122:Strasburg
48:mountains
32:geography
305:Category
189:Wind gap
135:See also
127:—
46:between
240:défiler
120:, near
114:BrĂĽmath
80:défiler
60:debouch
292:p. 772
236:défilé
177:Valley
171:Ravine
153:Canyon
118:Suffel
56:column
36:defile
165:Gully
76:files
72:ranks
52:hills
44:gorge
221:(1).
110:Rapp
40:pass
34:, a
62:".
50:or
42:or
30:In
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258:2.
256:n.
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294:)
124:.
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