Ri"fle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Rifled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Rifling (?).] [F. rifler to rifle, sweep away; of uncertain origin. CF. Raff.]
1.
To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off.
Till time shall rifle every youthful grace.
Pope.
2.
To strip; to rob; to pillage.
Piers Plowman.
Stand, sir, and throw us that you have about ye:
If not, we'll make you sit and rifle you.
Shak.
3.
To raffle.
[Obs.]
J. Webster.
© Webster 1913.
Ri"fle, v. i.
1.
To raffle.
[Obs.]
Chapman.
2.
To commit robbery.
[R.]
Bp. Hall.
© Webster 1913.
Ri"fle, n. [Akin to Dan. rifle, or riffel, the rifle of a gun, a chamfer (cf. riffel, riffelbosse, a rifle gun, rifle to rifle a gun, G. riefeln, riefen, to chamfer, groove), and E. rive. See Rive, and cf. Riffle, Rivel.]
1.
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 As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
2. pl. Mil.
A body of soldiers armed with rifles.
3.
A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
Rifle pit Mil., a trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
© Webster 1913.
Ri"fle (?), v. t.
1.
To grove; to channel; especially, to groove internally with spiral channels; as, to rifle a gun barrel or a cannon.
2.
To whet with a rifle. See Rifle, n., 3.
© Webster 1913.