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¹rifle

verb ri·fle \ˈrī-fəl\

ri·fledri·fling \-f(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of RIFLE

transitive verb

: to ransack especially with the intent to steal

: to steal and carry away

intransitive verb

: to engage in ransacking and stealing

— ri·fler \-f(ə-)lər\ noun

Origin of RIFLE

Middle English, from Anglo-French rifler to scrape off, plunder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German riffilōn to saw, obsolete Dutch rijffelen to scrape

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with RIFLE

stifle, trifle

²rifle

verb

ri·fledri·fling \-f(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of RIFLE

transitive verb

: to cut spiral grooves into the bore of <rifled arms> <rifled pipe>

Origin of RIFLE

perhaps from French rifler to scratch, file, from Middle French, to scrape, plunder

First Known Use: 1635

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

³rifle

noun

: a gun that has a long barrel and that is held against your shoulder when you shoot it

Full Definition of RIFLE

a : a shoulder weapon with a rifled bore

b : a rifled artillery piece

plural : soldiers armed with rifles

See rifle defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of RIFLE

1770

Other Weapons and Explosives Terms

automatic, carbine, cudgel, muzzle, rapier

⁴rifle

verb

ri·fledri·fling \-f(ə-)liŋ\

Definition of RIFLE

transitive verb

: to propel (as a ball) with great force or speed

Origin of RIFLE

³rifle

First Known Use: 1937

RIFLE Defined for Kids

¹rifle

verb ri·fle \ˈrī-fəl\

ri·fledri·fling

Definition of RIFLE for Kids

: to search through quickly and roughly often to steal something <He was left with enough time to rifle through a rubbish dump … — Linda Sue Park, A Single Shard>

: ¹steal 1