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by yahoot on September 15th, 2009
it has to do with military formations.
When soldiers were lined up, they stood in ranks (we now call them rows - front row, back row,), and in files (like columns this still survives in the idea of "single file").
The idea of a forming in ranks still survives - hence the admonishment "no talking in ranks" when a soldier speaks on parade.
Ranks were important because in the era of the musket, men would fire "by rank" The officer would command "front rank! aim, fire, reload second rank!aim, ..." that way he could command each row of men separately.
one of the most important drills was to get from file (marching column) to rank (ready to fight) very quickly.
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