▪ I. defilement1
(dɪˈfaɪlmənt)
[f. defile v.1 + -ment.]
The act of defiling, the fact or state of being defiled.
| 1634 Milton Comus 466 When lust..Lets in defilement to the inward parts. 1712 Steele Spect. No. 286 ¶1 The Chaste cannot rake into such Filth without Danger of Defilement. 1814 Southey Roderick ii, Where..It might abide..From all defilement safe. 1861 Gen. P. Thompson Audi Alt. III. cxxxii. 97 Those sources of ceremonial defilement. |
b. An instance of this; concr. anything that defiles.
| 1571 Golding Calvin on Ps. x. 16 Y⊇ holy land was at length purged from y⊇ defylements and filthines, wherewith it was berayed. 1643 Milton Divorce Pref. (1851) 16 Mariage lay in disgrace..as a work of the flesh, almost a defilement. 1699 W. Salmon Ars Chirurgica Title-p., Removal of Defilements. 1834 H. Martineau Farrers ii. 33 Purifying himself from the defilements of the counter. 1871 Echo 31 Jan., The defilements in water which are most fatal to man. |
▪ II. deˈfilement2 Fortif.
[a. mod.F. défilement (1785 in Hatzf.), f. défiler: see defile v.3]
The act or operation of defilading.
| 1816 in James Milit. Dict. 1828 J. M. Spearman Brit. Gunner (ed. 2) 218 The banquettes and terre⁓pleins of ramparts that are commanded, should be formed in planes parallel to the plane of defilement of the crest of the parapet. 1830 E. S. N. Campbell Dict. Mil. Sc. 51 The operation..called Defilement, or Defilading, is of two kinds, in altitude and in direction..Defilement in Altitude is performed by raising the parapet, sinking the terrepleine, or constructing Traverses. |