rifling

[rahy-fling]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rifling ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act or process of cutting spiral grooves in a gun barrel, pipe, etc.

the system of spiral grooves so cut.

Origin of rifling

First recorded in 1790–1800; rifle¹ + -ing¹

rifling

[rahy-fling]

noun

the act or process of ransacking or robbing.

Origin of rifling

rifle² + -ing¹

rifle

[rahy-fuh l]

noun

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.

one of the grooves.

a cannon with such grooves.

(often initial capital letter) rifles, any of certain military units or bodies equipped with rifles.

verb (used with object), ri·fled, ri·fling.

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

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

Origin of rifle

1745–55; < Low German rīfeln to groove, derivative of rīve, riefe groove, flute, furrow; akin to Old English rifelede wrinkled

rifle

[rahy-fuh l]

verb (used with object), ri·fled, ri·fling.

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

to search and rob (a person).

to plunder or strip bare.

to steal or take away.

Origin of rifle

1325–75; Middle English rifel < Old French rifler to scratch, strip, plunder

Related formsri·fler, noun

Can be confusedriffle rifle

Synonyms for rifle

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR rifle ON THESAURUS.COM

1. See rob.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for rifling

rip, rummage, trash, burglarize, pillage, rob, gut, sack, despoil, plunder, take, strip, loot, waste, grab, burgle

Examples from the Web for rifling

Historical Examples of rifling

The bullet was a Guedes, with no marks of rifling, and was in no way deformed.
Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900
George Henry Makins
These other marks were made by the rifling of the barrel a barrel like this one.'
Trent's Last Case
E.C. (Edmund Clerihew) Bentley
Showing the machinery for boring and rifling heavy ordnance.
Sixty Years a Queen
Sir Herbert Maxwell
"Go on with your task of rifling the traveller's saddle-bags," she said, but made no movement to go.
The Mercenary
W. J. Eccott
Then he cut her throat, and leaving her for dead on the bed, 019proceeded with his rifling.
Highways and Byways in The Border
Andrew Lang

British Dictionary definitions for rifling

rifling

noun

the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of a firearm's barrel

the series of grooves so cut

rifle

noun

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
(as modifier)rifle fire

(formerly) a large cannon with a rifled bore

one of the grooves in a rifled bore

(plural)

a unit of soldiers equipped with rifles
(capital when part of a name)the Rifle Brigade

verb (tr)

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

to throw or hit (a ball) with great speed

Word Origin for rifle

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

rifle

verb (tr)

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

to steal and carry offto rifle goods from a shop

Derived Formsrifler, noun

Word Origin for rifle

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for rifling

rifle

1775, "portable firearm having a spirally grooved bore," used earlier of the grooves themselves (1751), noun use of rifled (pistol), 1680s, from verb meaning "to cut spiral grooves in" (a gun barrel); see rifle (v.2).

rifle

v.1

"to plunder," early 14c. (implied in rifling), from Old French rifler "strip, filch, plunder, peel off (skin or bark), fleece," literally "to graze, scratch" (12c.), probably from a Germanic source (cf. Old English geriflian "to wrinkle," Old High German riffilon "to tear by rubbing," Old Norse rifa "to tear, break"). Related: Rifled; rifling.

rifle

v.2

"to cut spiral grooves in" (a gun barrel), 1630s, probably from French rifler, from Old French rifler "to scratch or groove" (see rifle (v.1)). Related: Rifled; rifling.