GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

last match results

Found 4 definitions

1.       
   Rifle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rifled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rifling (?).] [F. rifler to rifle, sweep away; of uncertain origin. CF. Raff.]
   1. To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
   
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   Till time shall rifle every youthful grace. Pope.
   
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   2. To strip; to rob; to pillage.  Piers Plowman.
   
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   Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
   
   If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you. Shak.
   
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   3. To raffle. [Obs.]  J. Webster.
   
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2.       
   Rifle, v. i.
   1. To raffle. [Obs.]  Chapman.
   
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   2. To commit robbery. [R.]  Bp. Hall.
   
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3.       
   Rifle, n. [Akin to Dan. rifle, or riffel, the rifle of a gun, a chamfer (cf. riffel, riffelbösse, a rifle gun, rifle to rifle a gun, G. riefeln, riefen, to chamfer, groove), and E. rive. See Rive, and cf. Riffle, Rivel.]
   1. A gun, the inside of whose barrel is grooved with spiral channels, thus giving the ball a rotary motion and insuring greater accuracy of fire. As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
   
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   2. pl. (Mil.) A body of soldiers armed with rifles.
   
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   3. A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
   
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   Rifle pit (Mil.), a trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
   
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4.       
   Rifle (?), v. t.
   1. To grove; to channel; especially, to groove internally with spiral channels; as, “to rifle a gun barrel or a cannon”.
   
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   2. To whet with a rifle. See Rifle, n., 3.
   
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