Definition

A position where you're protected from enemy fire by terrain or structures, essentially nature's bulletproof vest. It's the difference between being a smart soldier and being a statistic.

Example Usage

The squad moved into defilade behind the ridge line before calling in their position to command.

Origin

From French 'défiler' meaning 'to protect from enfilade fire,' adopted into English military terminology in the 18th century

Fun Fact

The opposite of defilade is 'enfilade,' where you're exposed to gunfire along the length of a formation—basically the worst place to be on a battlefield.

Source: Classical military tactics terminology

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