Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- intransitive verb To search (an area or container, for example) thoroughly, especially using the hands with the intent to steal or remove something.
- intransitive verb To rob or search with the intent to rob.
- intransitive verb To steal (goods).
- intransitive verb To search vigorously.
- noun A firearm with a rifled bore, designed to be fired from the shoulder.
- noun An artillery piece or naval gun with such spiral grooves.
- noun Troops armed with rifles.
- transitive verb To cut spiral grooves within (a gun barrel, for example).
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[Middle English riflen, to plunder, from Old French rifler, probably of Germanic origin.]
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
[From rifle, to cut spiral grooves in, from French rifler, from Old French, to plunder, scratch; see rifle.]
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