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Definition 2024


Indian_file

Indian file

English

Noun

Indian file

  1. (chiefly US, uncommon) Single file.
    • 1791, Voyages And Travels Of An Indian Interpreter And Trader, page 69:
      In about an hour they returned very much intoxicated, singing their dead war songs, and every warrior naked, painted black from head to foot: as they approached the house in Indian file, each one repeated the following words []

Usage notes

  • Usually used as walk (march, approach, etc) Indian file (adverbially) or walk in Indian file. Until the 1800s, the form walk in an Indian file was sometimes encountered.