▪ I. † rifle, n.1 Obs.
Also 5 Sc. riffil.
[f. rifle v.1]
1. A depredation, sacking, spoliation.
| c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. iii. v. 793 Qwhil þe tyme þat þis Arbate Þis riffil [v.rr. ruffull, ruffil] made, and fra þat day Babilon was failȝeande ay. |
2. A thing acquired by rifling.
| 1657 Reeve God's Plea Ep. Ded. 11 Men enjoying preyes with as much inward satisfaction as birth-rights, and possessing rifles with as quiet a conscience as just earnings. |
▪ II. rifle, n.2 Now
dial. and
U.S. (
ˈraɪf(ə)l)
Also 5–6
ryfle, 8–9
riffle.
[a. OF. riffle a stick, billet of wood. In Norman dial. rifle is used in the same sense as in English.] 1. A piece of wood used by mowers for sharpening their scythes.
| 1459 Proc. Chancellor's Crt. Oxford (Archives Aaa fol. 177), Confessus est quod percussit quendam fratrem predicatorem cum uno Ryfle in capite. 1568 Withals Dict. 19 a/1 A ryfle to whet the sithe with, lignum acuarium. 1606 Wily Beguiled in Hazl. Dodsley IX. 262 Hear you—you with the long rifle by your side—..Call ye this a rifle? it's a good backsword. 1634 Whately Redempt. Time 11 As the Mower's whetstone or rifle is to his Sythe, to sharpen it when it growes dull. 1841 Emerson Ess. Ser. i. vii. (1901) 132 The sound of a whetstone or mower's rifle. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade 319/2. |
2. A bent stick attached to the butt of a scythe for laying the corn in rows.
| 1573 Tusser Husb. (1878) 37 A brush sithe and grasse sithe, with rifle to stand, a cradle for barlie. 1710 D. Hilman Tusser Redivivus xvii. 14 A rifle or ruffle is no more than a bent stick standing on the butt of a sithe-handle. 1853 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Rapstick..is more frequently called Rifle. |
▪ III. rifle, n.3 (
ˈraɪf(ə)l)
[f. rifle v.3 Cf. obs. Flem. rijffel ‘rasura, sculptura’ (Kilian), LG. riffel, Da. riffel, rifle, Sw. reffla groove (in a rifle), chamfer, flute, etc.] 1. a. One of a set of spiral grooves cut on the interior surface of a gun-barrel with the object of giving to the projectile a rotatory movement on its own axis.
| a 1751 B. Robins Math. Tracts (1761) I. 334 The metal of the barrel being soft,..its bore by half a year's use was sensibly enlarged; and consequently the depth of its rifles diminished. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1776) ¶3 The carabine..has a much greater range than the fusil or musket, because the rifle of the barrel impedes the ball. 1802 James Milit. Dict. s.v. Rifled gun, The bullet ought to be no larger than to be just pressed by the rifles. 1808 in Abridgm. Patent Specif., Fire-arms (1859) 46 [Cast-iron shot] coated with pure tin and iron, with a proper quantity of lead..to give way to the pressure of the rifles. |
b. attrib. and
Comb., as
rifle-barrel,
rifle-barrelled,
rifle-calibre,
rifle cannon,
rifle-carbine,
rifle-groove,
rifle-grooved,
rifle-musket,
rifle-piece,
rifle-pistol. Also
rifle-gun.
| 1788 New London Mag. 520 Wolfe..was marked out by a miscreant who was provided with a rifle-piece. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) VIII. 220/2 The reasons commonly alleged for the superiority of rifle-barrels over common ones. Ibid. 221/1 The bullet impelled from a rifle-barrelled piece. 1820 Scoresby Arc. Regions II. 205 In other parts are receptacles,..occasionally for a rifle piece. 1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 11/2 By means of the rifle-grooves in the barrel. Ibid., The number of spiral channels in a rifle-musket has varied at different times. 1859 Musketry Instr. 93 The recruits are to be handed over for rifle-carbine training. 1861 E. Cowell Jrnl. 14 May in M. W. Disher Cowells in Amer. (1934) 347 The steamer, Pawnee was moored in front of the city, yesterday, with her guns (rifle cannon) and mortars so commanding it. 1876 Goode in Smithsonian Collect. XIII. vi. 27 Rifle-muskets, Rifle-carbines. 1883 ‘Mark Twain’ Life on Mississippi 317, I arose and drew an elegant rifle pistol on him. 1940 War Illustr. 5 Jan. 554/2 The armament is believed to consist of two shell-firing guns as well as four rifle-calibre machine-guns. 1977 ‘J. Gash’ Judas Pair ii. 27 [Duelling pistols] should have walnut stocks, and usually be rifle-grooved. |
2. a. A fire-arm,
esp. a musket or carbine, having a spirally grooved bore.
A breech-loading rifle is now one of the most usual types of fire-arm.
| 1770 G. Washington Diary 5 Mar. (1925) I. 368 By John Jost for my Rifle in full {pstlg}6.10. 1772 D. Taitt Jrnl. 5 Apr. in N. D. Mereness Trav. Amer. Colonies (1916) 537 Others took the Cock off his riffle and Sixteen Carrots of Tobacco. 1775 J. Adams in Fam. Lett. (1876) 65 They use a peculiar kind of musket, called a rifle. 1810 Wellington in Gurw. Desp. (1837) VI. 16 Picton's rifles are for the Portuguese troops. 1846 Greener Sci. Gunnery 359 The addition of percussion to rifles also; that alone would have increased the accuracy of the old rifles. 1880 Encycl. Brit. XI. 281/2 Rifles for sporting purposes differ from military pieces in being double-barrelled. |
b. pl. Troops armed with rifles; riflemen.
| 1843 W. C. Macready Diary 18 Sept. (1912) II. 222 He came back to introduce Mr Webster of the Rifles to me. 1853 Stocqueler Mil. Encycl. 233/2 In the British army there are two battalions of the rifle brigade and of the 60th rifles. 1860 Ruskin Wks. (1905) XVIII. Introd. p. xxiv, She's wholly wrong..about the Rifles—the only thing to save us from our accursed commerce. 1892 Daily News 15 July 5/5 Some 500 rifles, of which about 10 per cent. are sick. 1952 E. Waugh Men at Arms i. ii. 77, I got seconded to the African Rifles. 1971 S. Hill Strange Meeting iii. 200 The Rifles were still advancing. |
3. attrib. and
Comb. a. Attrib., with words denoting parts of, or articles connected with, a rifle; as
rifle-ball,
rifle-barrel,
rifle-bullet,
rifle-butt (hence
occas. as
v. trans.),
rifle-oil,
rifle-rag,
rifle-sight,
rifle-sling,
rifle-thong, etc.
| 1816 Byron Ch. Har. iii. lvii. note, General Marceau (killed by a rifle-ball). |
| 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 472 Rifle barrels have parallel grooves of a square or angular form cut within them. |
| 1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 11/2 Captain Norton's rifle-bullets are nearly of a spheroidal form. |
| 1968 Listener 27 June 826/3 But strip away the abstract terminology and watch tough heavily-armoured cops beating up boys and girls with rifle-butts, and the spectacle becomes embarrassing. 1977 Rolling Stone 16 June 36/1 There's just this part of him that's seven feet tall, big as a house, and wants to rifle-butt everybody around. |
| 1923 Kipling Irish Guards in Gt. War I. 46 It is very hard to get any sort of rifle-oil. |
| 1933 F. Richards Old Soldiers never Die 43 We had..no rifle-oil or rifle-rag to clean our rifles with. |
| a 1914 in Penguin Bk. Austral. Ballads (1964) 221 They had sought him over their rifle-sights. 1932 Auden Orators iii. 112 That rifle-sight you're designing: is it ready yet? |
| 1901 Macm. Mag. Apr. 442/2 The rifle-sling seems to tighten across my chest. |
| 1917 W. Owen Coll. Poems (1963) 39 Knit in the webbing of the rifle-thong. |
b. Attrib., with words relating to the use of rifles; as
rifle-butts,
rifle fire,
rifle-gallery,
rifle-ground,
rifle-match,
rifle power,
rifle practice,
rifle training, etc.
| 1859 Musketry Instr. 7 The rifle training..is placed under the responsibility of the commanding officer. 1859 Ruskin Wks. (1905) XVIII. 538 The Tyrolese marksmen..are following up their rifle practice to good purpose. 1865 ― Sesame i. §46 That we should..find national amusement in reading-rooms as well as rifle-grounds. 1867 Tyndall Sound i. 23 The marker at the rifle-butts never fails to hear the explosion. 1880 E. Leathes Actor Abroad xiv. 165 Beneath the building, scooped out of the cliff, are a bowling-alley and a rifle-gallery. 1880 ‘Mark Twain’ Tramp Abroad 626 No information about prize fights.., rifle-matches, or other sporting matters. 1886 Pall Mall G. 9 Dec. 10/1 Great Britain in its rifle power is represented to be in the most dangerous position. 1897 Daily News 25 Sept. 5/4 The enemy..opened rifle fire on the advanced guard. |
c. Attrib., in sense ‘using, or armed with, rifles’, as
rifle artillery,
rifle association,
rifle battalion,
rifle brigade,
rifle club,
rifle company,
rifle corps,
rifle regiment,
rifle team.
| 1775 Jrnls. Continental Congress U.S. (1905) III. 305 To John Biddle,..Commissary of the riffle Battalion. Ibid. (1905) II. 250 The expences incurred for raising and arming the riffle companies. 1777 J. Thacher Military Jrnl. (1823) 121 The gallant Colonel Morgan, at the head of his famous rifle corps..commenced the action. 1820 Army List Jan. 42 Rifle Brigade. 1830 Ibid. 37 The Duke of York's own Rifle Corps. 1839 Ure Dict. Arts 477 Practice..by several companies of the Rifle Corps, at 300 yards. 1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 12/2 In 1816 it was formed into the present rifle-brigade. 1844 H. H. Wilson Brit. India III. 109 The Rifle Company of the Mug levy. 1849–50 Army List 331 Royal Canadian Rifle regiment. 1852 Patmore in Champneys Mem. (1900) II. 176 My whole time is now absorbed in the business of a Rifle Club. 1861 Ld. Palmerston Let. 30 Dec. in Ld. Cowley Paris Embassy during Second Empire (1928) xi. 234 They still attack in columns which would be blown to pieces by the French rifle artillery long before they could come into contact with their opponents. 1876 Stevenson & Voyle Milit. Dict. 456/2 Nearly every county..forming a rifle association. |
d. Instrumental and objective, as
rifle-firing,
rifle-shooting,
rifle-shooter,
rifle twirling;
rifle-carrier, etc.
| 1838 Murray's N. Germany 300 The amusements of the theatre, or gaming table, or rifle shooting. 1841 Penny Cycl. XX. 12/2 Rifle-firing in extended order is performed by sound of bugle. 1864 Burton Scot Abr. I. 167 Some Brummagem rifle-manufacturer about the period of the American War. 1886 P. Robinson Teetotum Trees 54 A multitude of rifle-carriers among the subordinates in public services. 1895 J. G. Millais Breath fr. Veldt 24 A rifle⁓shooter going out by himself into the Karroo. 1974 Ridge Citizen (Johnston, S. Carolina) 18 Apr. 1/6 Her special training while in school consists of several years of rifle twirling while a member of the Thurmond Color Guard. 1981 E. North Dames xiv. 268 There was a rifle range nearby and Major Frimley taught rifle shooting to the girls. |
e. Misc.,
rifle ball,
-bench (see
quots.);
rifle-coat = rifle-frock;
rifle-fish = archer 5;
rifle-frock, a rifleman's tunic;
rifle frolic (see
quot.);
rifle-green a., of the colour of a rifleman's uniform;
n., this shade of green;
rifle-grenade, a grenade discharged from a rifle;
rifle leggings, leggings similar to those worn by riflemen;
rifle microphone (or
colloq. as
mike)
U.S. = gun microphone s.v. gun n. 17;
rifle-pit, an excavation made to give cover to riflemen in firing at an enemy;
riflescope U.S., a telescopic rifle sight.
| 1884 Pall Mall G. 24 July 22/1 The large round pan..is chiefly employed in the manufacture of carraway ‘comfits’, otherwise ‘prickly balls’ or ‘*rifle balls’. |
| 1814 Sporting Mag. XLIV. 62 The *rifle-bench which gunmakers use. |
| 1877 Rep. Indian Affairs (U.S.) 5 The coats to be in shape like the old fringed *rifle-coat or blouse. |
| 1782 J. Trumbull M'Fingal IV. 78 While *rifle-frocks sent Gen'rals cap'ring. 1811 Niles' Weekly Reg. I. 45/2 In this valuable class of cotton goods are included rifle-frocks. 1823 J. F. Cooper Pioneers xi, There was also one man in a ‘rifle frock’. |
| 1775 S. Haws Mil. Jrnls. (1855) 77 We had a *rifle frolick. (Note. ‘Shooting at a mark, for liquor.’) |
| 1840 Thackeray Pict. Rhapsody Wks. 1900 XIII. 348 So many masses of *rifle-green trees plunged into the deepest shadow. 1891 ‘J. S. Winter’ Mrs. Bob 46 Gown of dark green cloth—rifle green I believe they call it. |
| 1915 *Rifle grenade [see drain-pipe s.v. drain n. 5]. 1928 C. F. S. Gamble Story of N. Sea Air Station v. 87 It was also intended that the Marten Hale rifle-grenade should be issued for use from aircraft. |
| 1862 Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit. II. No. 4987 Boots,..*rifle leggings, lasts, and boot trees. |
| 1962 A. Nisbett Technique Sound Studio 255 Gun microphone (Am.: *Rifle Microphone), moving coil microphone with a battery of tubes of different lengths leading out along the axis. |
| 1974 Some Technical Terms & Slang (Granada Television), *Rifle mike, a specialised form of microphone used in filming. 1978 Broadcast 17 July 9/3 He..feels better off handing in his rifle mike. |
| 1855 Ann. Reg. 231 These ‘*rifle-pits’ became a source of great annoyance to the French. 1885 Manch. Exam. 12 May 5/2 The insurgents were also compelled to evacuate some rifle pits. |
| 1961 Webster, *Riflescope. 1978 Detroit Free Press 5 Mar. c 9/4 (Advt.), A spring sale... All riflescopes..1/4 off. |
Add:
[2.] c. A marksman (
esp. a hunter) armed with a rifle.
Cf. gun n. 5 a.
| 1933 ‘H. Wade’ Policeman's Lot 266 At last there were the two figures—stalker and ‘rifle’—making their way slowly towards the glen where the stag still waited. 1977 D. Seaman Committee 9 He was aware that some famous rifles had missed completely at half that distance. 1988 Shooting Life June 63/1 Early season may find the rifle stalking his stag under a hot July sun, or on a still August day when he is eaten alive by midges. |
▪ IV. rifle, v.1 (
ˈraɪf(ə)l)
Forms: α. 4, 6
rifil, 4–7
rifel (6
rifell); 5
ryfel,
ryfyl, 6–7
ryfell; 4–6
ryfle, 6
riefle, 4–
rifle. β. 4–7
ryffle, 5–8
riffle, 6
riffell.
[a. OF. rifler, riffler to graze, scratch, strip, plunder, etc., of obscure origin (cf. F. rafler, érafler, and raffle v.2). Hence also obs. Flem. rijffelen ‘rapere’ (Kilian).] 1. a. trans. To despoil, plunder, or rob (a person) in a thorough fashion,
esp. by searching his pockets or clothes; to search (one) thoroughly with intent to rob.
| a 1352 Minot Poems (ed. Hall) ii. 17 He has rifild þaire rout, wele wurth þe while. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. v. 54 What wey ich wende wel ȝerne he aspieþ, To robbe me and to ryfle me. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 68/2 The philistees wente for to ryfle and pylle them that were deed. 1567 R. Edwards Damon & Pithias in Dodsley (1744) I. 277 Let us riffell him so, that he have not one penny to blesse him. 1591 Shakes. Two Gent. iv. i. 4 We'll make you sit, and rifle you. 1609 Rowlands Dr. Merrie-man (Hunterian Cl.) 3 Vnto a Wood hard by, they hale him in, And rifle him vnto his very skin. 1684 Bunyan Pilgr. ii. 139 Now the Gyant was rifling of him, with a purpose after that to pick his Bones. 1722 De Foe Col. Jack (1840) 323 We were visited and rifled by two pirate barks. 1757 Smollett Reprisal i. iii, You have..rifled the passengers. 1826 Disraeli Viv. Grey v. vi, The most skilful plunderer that ever rifled the dying. 1853 Merivale Rom. Rep. vii. (1867) 204 As if..he had been sent to rifle kings and not to conquer them. |
b. To plunder or pillage (a receptacle, place, etc.); to ransack or search thoroughly,
esp. in order to take what is valuable.
| 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. v. 234, I roos whan þei were arest, and yrifled here males. 1388 Wyclif Gen. xxxiv. 27 Othere sones of Jacob..rifeliden the citee. c 1425 Wyntoun Cron. v. Prol. 23 Þe kynge of Mede..Rifflyt Babilon þat ȝhere. a 1513 Fabyan Chron. vii. 563 [They] fell vpon a towne callyd Bellin, and it ryffled. 1530 Palsgr. 691/1, I ryfell a chyst, a cofer, or a male, or suche lyke thynge, je fouille... Is it well done to riffell my cofer whyle I am absent? 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 226 b, It was a pointe of mercifulnesse..not to riefle or spoyle a citee. 1590 Disc. Sp. Fleet inv. Eng. 23 Two Spanish Galeons..were surprised, and without fight rifeled by the Zelanders. c 1618 Moryson Itin. iv. (1903) 127 The searchers rifeled all parts, Carriages, and the least Portmanteau, to find out things for which Tribute was to be paid. 1667 Milton P.L. i. 687 Men..with impious hands Rifl'd the bowels of their mother Earth For Treasures. 1728 Morgan Algiers I. 44 The reward was to be..the rifling a well-filled Treasury. 1753–4 Richardson Grandison (1781) III. xviii. 155 The cabinets..were to be broke open, and rifled. 1832 H. Martineau Ireland 76 In time to have..the next mail stopped, in order to rifle the letter bag. 1896 A. Austin England's Darling i. i, Hingvar and Hubba..Ride through East Anglia rifling shrine and cell. |
c. To despoil or strip bare
of something.
| c 1495 The Epitaffe, etc. in Skelton's Wks. 1843 II. 391 Now is he gone, of erthly blysse ryfyld. 1570 Foxe A. & M. (ed. 2) 2119/2 [They] spared not in his absence to rifle his study of certaine good bookes and writynges. 1593 Shakes. Lucr. 692 Pure Chastity is rifled of her store. 1610 Holland Camden's Brit. (1637) 513 Herward..rifled it of all the riches that it had gathered together. 1657 R. Ligon Barbadoes (1673) 1 By which means I was stript and rifled of all I had. 1703 J. Savage Lett. Antients ii. 17 They rifl'd the Christians of all their Goods. 1772 Goldsm. Threnod. Aug. 11, We'll rifle the spring of its earliest bloom. 1878 R. B. Smith Carthage 415 The vast Necropolis which they had rifled of its contents. |
† d. To examine or investigate thoroughly.
Obs.| 1566 Drant Horace, Sat. i. iii. B iij b, Ryfle thou thy conscience, and looke thou be not led With any vyce. 1573 G. Harvey Letter-Bk. (Camden) 10 Thos paradoxis..propoundid of me out of others to be discussid and riflid in disputation. 1670 G. H. Hist. Cardinals i. ii. 56 That they may be ready..to rifle the Arguments of the other. |
e. intr. To make a vigorous search
through.
| 1966 D. F. Galouye Lost Perception xiv. 147 He turned to see Weldon Radcliff sitting at a polished desk and rifling through a file holder. 1977 Woman & Home Nov. 154/2 Grace started to rifle through the contents of her bag. 1978 Vogue Feb. 88/2 Visitors from all over the world rifle through the tweeds and tartans. |
2. a. absol. To engage in pillage or plunder, or in searching with a view to this.
| 1399 Langl. Rich. Redeles i. 16 By rewthles routus þat ryffled euere. 1582 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 64 My enymyes to behold too riffle in hous seat. 1626 Capt. Smith Accid. Yng. Seamen 26 You may stow the men, rifle, pillage, or sacke, and crye a prize. 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 204 Some Pagan Sergeants, who..rifled about, broke-ope her Chests, and carried away what was valuable. 1734 tr. Rollin's Anc. Hist. (1827) I. 20, I am not ashamed to rifle from all quarters. 1843 Lytton Last Bar. i. iv, Rob, then, rifle if ye will. |
† b. To search
into something.
Obs.—1| 1614 R. Wilkinson Paire of Serm. 3 The logician rifleth into matter, forme, efficient, and all the causes. |
3. trans. To carry off as booty; to plunder, steal. Also
fig.| 1390 Gower Conf. II. 347 Til he the mannes Purs have cut, And rifleth that he fint therinne. Ibid. 363 Of his condicion to telle, Which rifleth bothe bok and belle. 1568 Grafton Chron. II. 355 They will quickly rifle and eate vp all that euer we haue in this Countrie. 1592 Timme Ten Eng. Lepers D j, He rifeled their livings, imbeseled the patrimonie of the Church. 1623 Bingham Xenophon 97 Entring the ship,..and putting into it, what he had rifled. a 1648 Ld. Herbert Hen. VIII (1683) 68 They kill'd some, chased the rest and rifled his Goods. 1747 Smollett Regicide iv. iii, Shall he rifle all thy sweets, at will? 1765 Goldsm. Double Transform. 79 The small pox,..rifling every youthful grace, Left but the remnant of a face. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. I. 196 Wert thou but a rose..And I a bold bee for to rifle its bloom. 1850 Robertson Serm. Ser. iii. xxi. 281 The bodies have been rifled from their mausoleum. |
† 4. absol. Of a hawk: (see
quot.).
Obs.| 1486 Bk. St. Albans a vij b, When he shulde Nomme a fowle he seesith bot the federis, and as ofte as he doos so he Riflith. |
† 5. trans. To affect strongly or injuriously; to break or strip off.
Obs. The precise sense in some cases is not quite clear; with latest
quots. cf. riffle v. 2.
| 1604 Hieron Wks. I. 480 We can be content to heare the word vntill it rifle vs. 1641 Milton Ch. Govt. ii. iii, That lightning which harms not the skin, and rifles the entrals. 1649 Taylor Gt. Exemp. Ad Sect. xii. §6 Conversation..does too much rifle the ligaments and reverence of spiritual authority. 1655 Stanley Hist. Philos. (1701) 558/2 Where neither blasting Frost, nor hoary Snow Rifle the place; but Heaven is ever bright. 1762 Phil. Trans. LII. 510 The detached side-shootings of this flash only rifling the plaister in several places. 1770 Ibid. LXI. 72 At the same time the roof of the church was rifling. |
Hence
ˈrifling ppl. a.| 1611 Speed Hist. Gt. Brit. ix. xxiv. (1632) 1225 A number of rifeling Robbers. |
▪ V. ˈrifle, v.2 Obs. exc. dial. Also 6
rifel,
ryfle,
ryffle, 7
riffel,
riffle.
[ad. Du. rijfelen (in Kilian), obscurely related to F. rafler raffle v.1, and Sp. rifar, It. arriffare. The vbl. n. (q.v.) is found somewhat earlier, as in Dutch.] 1. intr. To play at dice; to gamble or raffle (
for a stake).
| 1590 Lodge Rosalynde (Hunterian Cl.) 17 Let him reade on Galen while thou riflest with gold. 1598 Chapman Blinde Beg. Alexandria Wks. 1873 I. 15 Weele..call people together, put crownes a peece, lets rifle for her. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. i. i, He would haue..a familiar, To rifle with, at horses, and winne cups. a 1633 W. Austin Medit. (1635) 111 These Theeves cast Lotts, and rifled for it. 1673 Dryden Amboyna v. i, We will divide their greatest Wealth by Lots, While wantonly we rifle for the rest. 1891 in Hartland (Devon) Gloss. |
2. trans. To dispose of by raffling; to gamble
away.
| 1607 Dekker & Marston Northw. Hoe v. D.'s Wks. 1873 III. 74 If you like not that course, but do intend to be rid of her, rifle her at a tauern. 1608 Dekker Lanth. & Candle Lt. Wks. (Grosart) III. 276 In the verie morning when hee is to bee rifled away amongst the Gamsters in Smithfield. |
▪ VI. rifle, v.3 (
ˈraɪf(ə)l)
[In sense 1 ultimately repr. F. rifler to scratch, scrape; whence obs. Flem. rijffelen ‘fricare, radere, scalpere, terere’ (Kilian), LG. rifeln, G. riefeln, Da. rifle, Sw. reffla to groove, chamfer, etc. It is not clear whether the special application originated in England or abroad. In sense 2 from rifle n.3 2.] 1. trans. To form spiral grooves in (the barrel of a gun or the bore of a cannon).
| 1635 Patent in Scott Brit. Army (1868) II. 286 To rifle, cutt out, and screwe barrels, as wide, or as close, or as deepe, or as shallowe, as shalbe required. 1769 Falconer Dict. Marine (1776) ¶3 The carabine is a sort of musquetoon, the barrel of which is rifled spirally from the breech. 1797 Nicholson's Jrnl. Nat. Phil. I. 382 The effect which is produced by rifling musquetry. 1860 All Year Round No. 73. 548 The same gun rifled..has a recoil two feet less. 1879 Man. Artill. Exerc. 42 R.M.L. guns, up to the 7-inch inclusive, are rifled with a uniform spiral. |
| transf. 1855 Brit. Ass. Rep. 206 The author pronounced the principle of rifling the shot instead of rifling the gun..to be absolutely necessary for large [projectiles]. |
2. a. To shoot with a rifle. Also
intr. with
at.
| 1821 Welby Visit N. Amer. 85 We kept a good look out, a little apprehensive of being rifled at from behind the trees. Ibid. 95 Instances are not infrequent of individuals among them being ‘rifled’ for having rendered themselves obnoxious. 1901 Sir H. Smith Autobiogr. I. 248 All my Rifle education was required to protect myself from being rifled. |
b. transf. To hit or kick (a ball) hard and straight. Hence
ˈrifling ppl. a.2| 1948 [see overrun v. 10 a]. 1973 Times 13 Apr. 13/3 In the end it was the low rifling backhand drive from Gomozkov that defeated him. 1975 New Yorker 7 Apr. 91/1 The pivot play, in which the ball was rifled in to the center positioned at the foul line with his back to the basket. 1977 Daily Mirror 16 Mar. 30/5 Referee James Brimmell stepped in to save the 22-year-old Scot after the challenger had pinned him on the ropes for fully a minute, rifling in a furious stream of punches. 1978 Guardian 27 Feb. 16/4 Robson..seized on a rebound..and joyfully rifled the equaliser past Shilton. |