▪ I. rifler1 Now rare.
(ˈraɪflə(r))
Also 4 rifflere, 4–5 ryfeler, 5 rifeler, -or, ryflar; 4 riflowr, 5 ryflowre.
[f. rifle v.1]
1. A robber, plunderer, spoiler.
| 1326 Ann. Paulini (Rolls) I. 321 Vocabatur tunc temporis hujusmodi robaria ‘Rifflinge’; et prædones appellabuntur ‘Riffleres’. a 1350 in Reliq. Antiq. II. 121 [Death is] Riche mannis riflowr, Povere mannis purveyowr, Old mannis somenowr. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. vii. 316 Roberd þe ryfeler on reddite lokede. 1399 ― Rich. Redeles iii. 197 Robbers and riffleris of peple. c 1420 Lydg. Assembly of Gods 688 Robbers, reuers, rauenous ryfelers. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 433/2 Ryflowre (ryflar or rifelor, P.), depredator, spoliator. 1591 Greene Conny-catch. ii. Wks. (Grosart) X. 87 In Prigging Law. The towler, the Rifler. 1611 Florio, Raffatore, a rifler. 1643 Quarles Loyall Convert Wks. (Grosart) I. 144/2 Cromwell, that profest defacer of Churches..and Rifler of the Monuments of the dead. 1750 Carte Hist. Eng. II. 379 The riflers..committed depredations on the most irreproachable persons, when any booty was to be got. |
2. A hawk that ‘rifles’. Obs. exc. arch.
| 1486 Bk. St. Albans a vij b, As ofte as he doos so he Riflith; therfore such hawkys been called Rifeleres if they doo ofte so. 1607 Heywood Wom. Killed w. Kindn. Wks. 1874 II. 104 She did discomfit Some of her feathers; but she brake away. Come, come, your hawk is but a rifler. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxix, She's going to prove, after all, nothing better than a rifler. 1820 ― Abbot vii, I would rather have a rifler on my perch than a false knave at my elbow. |
▪ II. rifler2
[f. rifle n.3 2.]
= rifleman 1.
| 1776 M{supc}Intosh in Sparks Corr. Amer. Rev. (1853) I. 169 The two armed vessels..were attacked by parties of riflers ordered for that purpose. 1807 J. Barlow Columb. v. 626 Morgan in front of his bold riflers towers. |