File (fīl), n. [F. file row (cf. Pr., Sp., Pg., & It. fila), LL. fila, fr. L. filum a thread. Cf. Enfilade, Filament, Fillet.] 1. An orderly succession; a line; a row; as: (a) (Mil) A row of soldiers ranged one behind another; — in contradistinction to rank, which designates a row of soldiers standing abreast; a number consisting the depth of a body of troops, which, in the ordinary modern formation, consists of two men, the battalion standing two deep, or in two ranks.
☞ The number of files in a company describes its width, as the number of ranks does its depth; thus, 100 men in “fours deep” would be spoken of as 25 files in 4 ranks. Farrow.
(b) An orderly collection of papers, arranged in sequence or classified for preservation and reference; as, files of letters or of newspapers; this mail brings English files to the 15th instant. (c) The line, wire, or other contrivance, by which papers are put and kept in order.
It is upon a file with the duke's other letters. Shak.
(d) A roll or list. “A file of all the gentry.” Shak.
2. Course of thought; thread of narration.
Let me resume the file of my narration. Sir H. Wotton.
File firing, the act of firing by file, or each file independently of others. — File leader, the soldier at the front of any file, who covers and leads those in rear of him. — File marching, the marching of a line two deep, when faced to the right or left, so that the front and rear rank march side by side. Brande & C. —Indian file, orSingle file, a line of men marching one behind another; a single row. — On file, preserved in an orderly collection. — Rank and file. (a) The body of soldiers constituting the mass of an army, including corporals and privates. Wilhelm. (b) Those who constitute the bulk or working members of a party, society, etc., in distinction from the leaders.