noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˈkɒfl̩/
US:/ˈkɔfl̩/
cot-caught-merger:/ˈkɑfl̩/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A line of people or animals fastened together, especially a chain of prisoners or slaves.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To fasten (a line of people or animals) together.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Arabic قَافِلَة (qāfila, “caravan”). Doublet of cafila.
Across languages
Translations
4 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Russian:
верени́ца
(vereníca)
— a line of people or animals fastened together
Russian:
карава́н
(karaván)
— a line of people or animals fastened together
Russian:
цепо́чка
(cepóčka)
— a line of people or animals fastened together
Spanish:
cáfila
— a line of people or animals fastened together