Dictionary

rifle en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈɹaɪfəl/

Etymology

Originally short for “rifled gun”, referring to the spiral grooves inside the barrel. From Middle English riflen (“to rob, plunder, search through”), from Old French rifler (“to lightly scratch, scrape off, plunder”), from Old High German riffilōn (compare German riffeln (“to score, make grooves in, ripple”), archaic Dutch rijfelen (“to scrape”), Old English rifelan, riflian (“to wrinkle”)), frequentative of Proto-Germanic *rīfaną (compare Old Norse rífa (“to tear, break”)). More at rive.

Meanings

1. A firearm fired from the shoulder; improved range and accuracy is provided by a long, rifled barrel.
   • In the June days of 1848 Baudelaire reports seeing revolutionaries (he might have been one of them) going through the streets of Paris with rifles, shooting all the clocks. 1995, Richard Klein, “Introduction”, in Cigarettes are sublime, Paperback edition, Durham: Duke University Press, published 1993, →ISBN, →OCLC, page 8:
   • 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. 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 7, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:
2. (dated, plural-normally) A rifleman.
3. An artillery piece with a rifled barrel.
4. A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.

Forms

Deriveds

rifleshot · rook rifle · rifledom · Mississippi rifle · rifle range · plasma rifle · riflelike · Parrott rifle · riflescope · Pennsylvania rifle · recoilless rifle · rifle pit · Minié rifle · riflery · air rifle · automatic rifle · riflebird · battle rifle · benchrest rifle · rook and rabbit rifle · rifleproof · survival rifle · rifle fish · assault rifle · rifled slug · rifle cartridge · Tennessee rifle · Kentucky rifle · rifle green · riflewoman · rifleman · rifling · long rifle · sniper rifle · rifle grenade · autorifle · hog rifle · rifle is fine · express rifle

Descendants

rifle · ライフル · rifle · rifle · 라이플 · rifle

Hypernyms

firearm · ranged weapon · weapon · gun

Translations (154)

tg милтиқ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · oj anwii-baashkizigan (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mt azzarin (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sk ručnica (firearm with a rifled barrel) · fo rifla (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sv gevär (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ms raifal (firearm with a rifled barrel) · th ปืน (firearm with a rifled barrel) · fi kivääri (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tl riple (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pdt Flint (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mn буу (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ko 소총 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ru винто́вка (firearm with a rifled barrel) · de Gewehr (firearm with a rifled barrel) · nog мылтык (firearm with a rifled barrel) · hi राइफ़ल (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tg туфанг (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ce топ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pl karabin (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ru караби́н (firearm with a rifled barrel) · alt мылтык (firearm with a rifled barrel) · fr fusil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · inh топ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pa ਬੰਦੂਕ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tyv ланчыы (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sl puška (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sk guľovnica (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mk пушка (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tk tüpeň (firearm with a rifled barrel) · nb rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · wym gywjēr (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sq pushkë (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ja ライフル (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pt fuzil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ca fusell (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ast rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ja 小銃 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ary مكحلة (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mfe fizi (firearm with a rifled barrel) · xal бу (firearm with a rifled barrel) · bo མེ་མདའ་ཁ་རིང (firearm with a rifled barrel) · be вінто́ўка (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ast fusil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · uk гвинті́вка (firearm with a rifled barrel) · gl rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ko 라이플 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · my ရိုင်ဖယ် (firearm with a rifled barrel) · yai милтиқ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ro flintă (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tfr krik (firearm with a rifled barrel) · yi ביקס (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mt xkubetta (firearm with a rifled barrel) · lt šautuvas (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ht fizi (firearm with a rifled barrel) · crs fizi (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cs puška (firearm with a rifled barrel) · lzz ťufeği (firearm with a rifled barrel) · acw بُنْدُقِيَّة (firearm with a rifled barrel) · nl geweer (firearm with a rifled barrel) · be стрэ́льба (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cmn 來福槍 /来福枪 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · be ружжо́ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · fa-ira تُفَنْگ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · he רוֹבֶה (firearm with a rifled barrel) · it schioppo (firearm with a rifled barrel) · uz miltiq (firearm with a rifled barrel) · hu puska (firearm with a rifled barrel) · nog туьбек (firearm with a rifled barrel) · es rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · el τουφέκι (firearm with a rifled barrel) · rif azidan (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ko 라이플 총 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · si තුවක්කුව (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ug مىلتىق (firearm with a rifled barrel) · gl fusil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · lij sccéuppo (firearm with a rifled barrel) · hu karabély (firearm with a rifled barrel) · es arma larga (firearm with a rifled barrel) · lv šautene (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ro pușcă f ghintuită (firearm with a rifled barrel) · gv raifyl (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pt rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · eo fusilo (firearm with a rifled barrel) · is riffill (firearm with a rifled barrel) · vi súng trường (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tab тюфенг (firearm with a rifled barrel) · az tüfəng (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ar بُنْدُقِيَّة (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ckb تفەنگ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cy reiffl (firearm with a rifled barrel) · gd gunna-peilear (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cmn 步槍 /步枪 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tt мылтык (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ka შაშხანა (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cs kulovnice (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mr रायफल (firearm with a rifled barrel) · nn rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mi pū raiwhara (firearm with a rifled barrel) · prs تُفَنْگ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · br karabinenn (firearm with a rifled barrel) · izh vintovka (firearm with a rifled barrel) · mi raiwhara (firearm with a rifled barrel) · yue 步槍 /步枪 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · da riffel (firearm with a rifled barrel) · kk мылтық (firearm with a rifled barrel) · os топп (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ab азаҧ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · bn রাইফেল (firearm with a rifled barrel) · io fusilo (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ru ружьё (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ca rifle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sh pȕška (firearm with a rifled barrel) · vec fuziłe (firearm with a rifled barrel) · it fucile (firearm with a rifled barrel) · lo ປືນ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · gd isneach (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pt refle (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sh пу̏шка (firearm with a rifled barrel) · hy հրացան (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ks رَفَل (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ja ライフル銃 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · id senapan (firearm with a rifled barrel) · bo རིང་མདའ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pl gwintówka (firearm with a rifled barrel) · es fusil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · th ไรเฟิล (firearm with a rifled barrel) · uk рушни́ця (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cs ručnice (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ur رائِفَل (firearm with a rifled barrel) · hi राइफल (firearm with a rifled barrel) · wa fizik (firearm with a rifled barrel) · cmn 來復槍 /来复枪 (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ga raidhfil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · la sclopetum (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pl strzelba (firearm with a rifled barrel) · bni bondoki (firearm with a rifled barrel) · sk puška (firearm with a rifled barrel) · km កាំភ្លើងវែង (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ky мылтык (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ba мылтыҡ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · nap fucile (firearm with a rifled barrel) · atv пултык (firearm with a rifled barrel) · et vintpüss (firearm with a rifled barrel) · tr tüfek (firearm with a rifled barrel) · ln bondoki (firearm with a rifled barrel) · bg винтовка (firearm with a rifled barrel) · av туманкӏ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · chr ᏗᏂᏃᎨᏂ (firearm with a rifled barrel) · br fuzuilh (firearm with a rifled barrel) · esu kalap'iinaq (firearm with a rifled barrel) · pt espingarda (firearm with a rifled barrel) · su bedil (firearm with a rifled barrel) · oc fusilh (firearm with a rifled barrel)

wikidata: Q124072

rifle en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈɹaɪfəl/

Etymology

Originally short for “rifled gun”, referring to the spiral grooves inside the barrel. From Middle English riflen (“to rob, plunder, search through”), from Old French rifler (“to lightly scratch, scrape off, plunder”), from Old High German riffilōn (compare German riffeln (“to score, make grooves in, ripple”), archaic Dutch rijfelen (“to scrape”), Old English rifelan, riflian (“to wrinkle”)), frequentative of Proto-Germanic *rīfaną (compare Old Norse rífa (“to tear, break”)). More at rive.

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To quickly search through many items (such as papers, the contents of a drawer, a pile of clothing).
   • She made a mess when she rifled through the stack of papers, looking for the title document.
   • Near-synonym: riffle
2. (intransitive) To commit robbery or theft.
   • Thither repair at accustomed times their harlots […] not with empty hands, for they be as skilful in picking, rifling, and filching as the upright men. 1566, Thomas Harman, A Caveat or Warning for Common Cursitors:
3. (transitive) To search with intent to steal.
   • thine enemies […]shall ransack and rifle all the things of Edom; and shall search out all thy hidden commodities, and carry them away at once 1633, Joseph Hall, A paraphrase upon the hard texts of Scripture:
4. (transitive) To strip of goods; to rob; to pillage.
   • Ben, in his long, lonely wanderings about the island, had found the skeleton — it was he that had rifled it; he had found the treasure; he had dug it up […] 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
   • Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye: / If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you. c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene v]:
5. (transitive) To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
   • Time shall rifle every youthful grace. 1715–1720, Homer, “Book I”, in Alexander Pope, transl., The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC:
6. (transitive) To add a spiral groove to a gun bore to make a fired bullet spin in flight in order to improve range and accuracy.
7. (transitive) To cause (a projectile, as a rifle bullet) to travel in a flat ballistic trajectory.
   • 2011 Fighting for Gold: The Story of Canada's Sledge Hockey Paralympic Gold by Lorna Schultz Schultz Nicholson But a Norwegian player rifled off a point shot that sailed into the back of the net.
   • 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. 2010 December 28, Marc Vesty, “Stoke 0 - 2 Fulham”, in BBC:
8. (intransitive) To move in a flat ballistic trajectory (as a rifle bullet).
   • The ball rifled off the bat. 2014, Alexander Rebelle, Lights of Summer: The Run for Glory:
9. (obsolete, transitive) To dispose of in a raffle.
   • If you like not that course but intend to be rid of her , rifle her at a tavern , where you may swallow down some fifty wiseacres ' sons and heirs to old tenements and common gardens , like so many raw yolks with muscadine to bedward Kate. 1605, John Webster, Northward Ho:
   • I've at one throw / Rifled away the diadem of Spain; […] c. 1600 (date written; first published 1657), attributed to Thomas Dekker, John Day, William Houghton, Lust’s Dominion: Or, The Lascivious Queen. A Tragedie, London: […] J. Chappell, Jun. […], published 1818, →OCLC, Act V, scene i, page 68:
10. (intransitive, obsolete) To engage in a raffle.
    • We'll strike up a drum, set up a tent, call people together, put crowns apiece, let's rifle for her 1596, George Chapman, The Blind Beggar of Alexandria:

Forms

Synonyms

loot · riffle · pillage · plunder · ransack

Translations (30)

pl przetrząsać (to search with intent to steal) · pl wyrywać (to seize and bear away by force) · bg наря́звам (to add a spiral groove to the interior of the bore of a gun) · fi penkoa (to search with intent to steal) · fi penkoa (to quickly search through) · fi ampua (to cause to travel in a flat ballistic trajectory) · pl przetrząsnąć (to quickly search through) · pl gwintować (to add a spiral groove to the interior of the bore of a gun) · pl plądrować (to strip of goods; to rob; to pillage) · pl strzelić (to cause to travel in a flat ballistic trajectory) · fi lähteä kuin ammuttuna (to move in a flat ballistic trajectory) · bg претършу́вам (to quickly search through) · pl strzelać (to cause to travel in a flat ballistic trajectory) · fi rosvota (to commit robbery or theft) · fi ryöstää (to strip of goods; to rob; to pillage) · pl przetrząsnąć (to search with intent to steal) · fi ryöstää (to commit robbery or theft) · fi riistää (to seize and bear away by force) · pl wystrzelić się (to move in a flat ballistic trajectory) · ga creach (to strip of goods; to rob; to pillage) · fi rihlata (to add a spiral groove to the interior of the bore of a gun) · pl wyrwać (to seize and bear away by force) · pl wystrzeliwać się (to move in a flat ballistic trajectory) · mi raiwhara (to add a spiral groove to the interior of the bore of a gun) · pl splądrować (to strip of goods; to rob; to pillage) · pt revirar (to quickly search through) · pl przetrząsać (to quickly search through) · mi paraketu (to quickly search through) · pl plądrować (to commit robbery or theft) · pl splądrować (to commit robbery or theft)