rifle

¹

[rahy-fuhl]

noun

1. a shoulder firearm with spiral grooves cut in the inner surface of the gun barrel to give the bullet a rotatory motion and thus a more precise trajectory.

2. one of the grooves.

3. a cannon with such grooves.

4. Often Rifles any of certain military units or bodies equipped with rifles.

verb (used with object)

rifled, rifling 

1. to cut spiral grooves within (a gun barrel, pipe, etc.).

2. to propel (a ball) at high speed, as by throwing or hitting with a bat.

rifle

²

[rahy-fuhl]

verb (used with object)

rifled, rifling 

1. to ransack and rob (a place, receptacle, etc.).

2. to search and rob (a person).

3. to plunder or strip bare.

4. to steal or take away.

rifle

¹

/ ˈraɪfəl /

noun

1. 1. a firearm having a long barrel with a spirally grooved interior, which imparts to the bullet spinning motion and thus greater accuracy over a longer range

   2. ( as modifier )

      rifle fire

2. (formerly) a large cannon with a rifled bore

3. one of the grooves in a rifled bore

4. (plural)

   1. a unit of soldiers equipped with rifles

   2. ( capital when part of a name )

      the Rifle Brigade

verb

1. to cut or mould spiral grooves inside the barrel of (a gun)

2. to throw or hit (a ball) with great speed

rifle

²

/ ˈraɪfəl /

verb

1. to search (a house, safe, etc) and steal from it; ransack

2. to steal and carry off

   to rifle goods from a shop

Other Word Forms

• rifler noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rifle¹

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; from Low German rīfeln “to groove,” derivative of rīve, riefe “groove, flute, furrow”; akin to Old English rifelede “wrinkled”

Origin of rifle²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English rifel, from Old French rifler “to scratch, strip, plunder”

Word History and Origins

Origin of rifle¹

C18: from Old French rifler to scratch; related to Low German rifeln from riefe groove, furrow

Origin of rifle²

C14: from Old French rifler to plunder, scratch, of Germanic origin

Synonym Study

See rob.

Example Sentences

Officials said several of the weapons found appeared to have been modified from their state-compliant configuration, and one short-barreled rifle without serial numbers was found in the attic during the search.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet the thought of Lord Fredrick galumphing blindly through the woods with a hunting rifle at his side was even worse.

Read more on Literature

Michael watched Beejee stop between buildings to rifle through the pockets of the cargo shorts.

Read more on Literature

“Be still. Don’t move!” he said, standing quickly as he reached over his shoulder and pulled out his rifle—all in one smooth movement.

Read more on Literature

Instead, the Housatonic’s crew fired their rifles and shotguns, only to see their bullets bounce harmlessly off the Hunley’s iron sides.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• rip