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

A bolt-action rifle was recovered near the shooting, and a screwdriver was found on the roof from where the fatal shot was fired.

From BBC

Community vigils in California continued through the weekend to memorialize Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist who was killed by rifle fire during a Utah rally Wednesday.

From Los Angeles Times

"The messages also refer to engraving bullets, and a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique," the affidavit states.

From BBC

Officials have not revealed a suspected motive for the attack, though they said the alleged gunman was increasingly angry and etched “hey fascist, catch” into the ammunition found with his rifle.

From Los Angeles Times

Along with a bolt-action rifle that was abandoned in a wooded area, investigators also recovered ammunition that bore various markings, according to authorities.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• rip