rif

¹ American  

[rif] / rɪf /

Or riff

verb (used with object)

Informal.

riffed, riffing

1. to discharge (a person) from military or civil service, especially as part of an economy program.

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Rif ² American  

[rif] / rɪf /

Or Riff

noun

1. Er a mountainous coastal region in N Morocco.

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RIF ³ American  

[rif] / rɪf /

noun

1. Military. a reduction in the personnel of an armed service or unit.

2. a reduction in the number of persons employed by a business, government department, etc., especially for budgetary reasons.

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Rif British  

/ ˈrɪfɪ, rɪf /

noun

1. a member of a Berber people, inhabiting the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

2. Also called: Rifian.   Riffian.  the dialect of Berber spoken by this people

3. See Er Rif

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Etymology

Origin of rif¹

First recorded in 1945–50; special use of RIF

Origin of RIF³

R(eduction) I(n) F(orce)

Example Sentences

Riff-raff.—The refuse of anything, "Il ne lui lairra rif ny raf."

From Notes and Queries, Number 208, October 22, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Bell, George

Cotgrave in Rif, where rif is said to mean nothing.

From Notes and Queries, Number 208, October 22, 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc by Bell, George

Philippe of Macedoyne kyng Two Sones hadde be his wif, Whos fame is yit in Grece rif: Demetrius the ferste brother Was hote, and Perse.s that other.

From Confessio Amantis, or, Tales of the Seven Deadly Sins by Macaulay, G. C. (George Campbell)