rifling
1 Americannoun
-
the act or process of cutting spiral grooves in a gun barrel, pipe, etc.
-
the system of spiral grooves so cut.
noun
noun
-
the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of a firearm's barrel
-
the series of grooves so cut
Etymology
Origin of rifling1
First recorded in 1790–1800; rifle 1 + -ing 1
Origin of rifling2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In any other part of civilized society, rifling through someone else’s diary is considered an outrageous invasion of privacy.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
And rifling marks on its driving band confirm it had been fired.
From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026
All of Bezos’ wealth and all of Amazon’s lobbying muscle did not prevent federal agents from rifling through his employee’s home.
From Salon • Jan. 17, 2026
Pope got the assist for the second goal as Antonio Silva failed to intercept his throw and 27-year-old Barnes sped clear before rifling low and hard into the far corner.
From Barron's • Oct. 21, 2025
She was in the wayback of the minivan again, rifling through a backpack or something.
From "Paper Towns" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
