Defile (geography)

The Defile of l'Ecluse viewed from Fort l'Écluse

In geography, a defile is a narrow pass or gorge between mountains or hills. The term originates from a military description of a route through which troops can march only in a narrow column or with a narrow front.[1] On emerging from a defile (or something similar) into open country, soldiers are said to "debouch".

  1. ^ "Defile". Oxford English Dictionary (1).