Meaning of rifle in English

Table of contents

Verb
rifle
Etymology
Middle English: from Old French rifler‘graze, plunder’, of Germanic origin
Definitions
1. steal goods
Examples
- « take as spoils »
- « During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners »
Derived terms
2. go through in search of something
Examples
- « search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way »
- « Who rifled through my desk drawers? »
Noun
rifle
Etymology
mid 17th century: from French rifler‘graze, scratch’, of Germanic origin. The earliest noun usage was in rifle gun, which had ‘rifles’ or spiral grooves cut into the inside of the barrel
Definitions
1. a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore
Examples
- « he lifted the rifle to his shoulder and fired »

Famous quotes

« The only real power comes out of a long rifle. »
Joseph Stalin
« If we don't get gun-control laws in this country, we are full of beans. To have the National Rifle Association rule the United States is pathetic. And I agree with Mayor Michael Bloomberg: It's time to put up or shut up about gun control for both parties. »
Harvey Weinstein
« There are two types of courage involved with what I did. When it comes to picking up a rifle, millions of people are capable of doing that, as we see in Iraq or Vietnam. But when it comes to risking their careers, or risking being invited to lunch by the establishment, it turns out that's remarkably rare. »
Daniel Ellsberg
« When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier. »
Rudyard Kipling
« I think as a rifle platoon and company commander your view is about 1,000 meters in front of you and you hope you can cover that ground and not have to back up and give it up again. »
Oliver North