Rifle

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈraɪfÉ™l/

Origin

Middle English, from Old French rifler ("to scrape off, plunder"), from Old Low Franconian *riffilōn (compare obsolete Dutch rijffelen 'to scrape', Old English geriflian ("to wrinkle"), Middle High German riffeln ("to scratch, heckle (flax)"), Old High German riffilōn ("to saw, rub apart")), frequentative of Proto-Germanic *rīfaną (compare Old Norse rifa ("to tear, break")). More at rive.

Full definition of rifle

Noun

1. A long firearm firing a single projectile, usually with a rifled barrel to improve accuracy.
• 1907, w, The Dust of Conflict Chapter 7, Still, a dozen men with rifles, and cartridges to match, stayed behind when they filed through a white aldea lying silent amid the cane, and the Sin Verguenza swung into slightly quicker stride.
2. A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.

Derived terms

• automatic rifle
• rifled slug
• rifling

Verb

1. to search with intent to steal; to ransack, pillage or plunder.
2. To scan many items (especially papers) in a set, quickly. (See also riffle^{http://verbmall.blogspot.com/2008/05/riffle-or-rifle.html})She made a mess when she rifled through the stack of papers, looking for the title document.
3. To add a spiral to the interior of a gun bore to make a fired bullet spin in flight to improve range and accuracy.
4. To strike something with great power.
• 2010, December 28, Marc Vesty, Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham, Davies's cross was headed away from danger by Robert Huth, only for Baird to take the ball in his stride and rifle his right-footed effort towards the corner from the edge of the box.
5. (intransitive) To commit robbery.
6. (transitive) To strip of goods; to rob; to pillage.
• ShakespeareStand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
  If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you.
7. To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
• Alexander PopeTime shall rifle every youthful grace.
8. To raffle.

Anagrams

• filer, flier, lifer