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.]
   To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
   1913 Webster
   Till time shall rifle every youthful grace.
   Pope.
   
   1913 Webster
   To strip; to rob; to pillage.
   Piers Plowman.
   
   1913 Webster
   Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
   If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you.
   Shak.
   
   1913 Webster
   To raffle. [Obs.]
   J. Webster.
   
   1913 Webster
         
       

2.       
   Rifle, v. i.
   To raffle. [Obs.]
   Chapman.
   
   1913 Webster
   To commit robbery. [R.]
   Bp. Hall.
   
   1913 Webster
         
       

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.]
   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 As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
   1913 Webster
   pl. (Mil.) A body of soldiers armed with rifles.
   1913 Webster
   A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
   1913 Webster
   Rifle pit (Mil.), a trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
   1913 Webster
   
         
       

4.       
   Rifle , v. t.
   To grove; to channel; especially, to groove internally with spiral channels; as, to rifle a gun barrel or a cannon.
   1913 Webster
   To whet with a rifle. See Rifle, n., 3.
   1913 Webster