Military Tactics & Operations Vocabulary

to attack the side of an enemy position

“The cavalry flanked the enemy line.”

Origin: Old French flanc `side`, from Frankish hlanka `hip`

wearing down an opponent through sustained losses

“The war of attrition exhausted both armies.”

Origin: Latin attritus `rubbed away`, from atterere `to rub against`

an attack by troops from a defensive position

“The garrison made a sortie at dawn.”

Origin: French sortie `going out`, from sortir `to go out`

a two-pronged attack converging on the enemy

“The pincer movement encircled the defenders.”

Origin: From pincer, the gripping tool

observation to gather military information

“Reconnaissance revealed enemy positions.”

Origin: French reconnaissance `recognition`

a level in a hierarchy or a staggered formation

“The upper echelons made the decision.”

Origin: French échelon `rung of a ladder`

a bulge in a battle line projecting into enemy territory

“The salient was vulnerable on three sides.”

Origin: Latin salire `to leap`

a deceptive attack to distract from the main assault

“The feint drew defenders away from the breach.”

Origin: French feinte `pretense`, from feindre `to pretend`

gunfire directed along the length of a target

“The machine gun enfiladed the trench.”

Origin: French enfiler `to thread`

a swift, overwhelming military attack

“The blitzkrieg conquered Poland in weeks.”

Origin: German `lightning war`