Exfiltration
Evelyn wrote that she
heard this on CNN the other day: “Two NCIS agents assisted in the exfiltration
of the wounded officer.”
Exfiltration is the
opposite of infiltration. It was built from ex-, out of, and -filtr-, which basically meant a filter. Originally,
filter referred to felt, a cloth made of wool or wool plus hair. It was
compacted by rolling and pressure.
Liquids were poured
through a filter in order to remove impurities. It eventually picked up a
military application: to withdraw troops or spies from a dangerous position,
often surreptitiously. The U.S.
Department of Defense’s 1968 Dictionary of U.S.
Military Terms defined exfiltration as “the removal of personnel or units from
areas under enemy control.”
Available from McFarland & Co.: Word Parts
Dictionary, 2nd edition
Nook edition
Nook edition
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