RIFLE

I. verb (~d; rifling) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French ~r to scrape off, plunder, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German riffilōn to saw, obsolete Dutch rijffelen to scrape Date: 14th century transitive verb to ransack especially with the intent to steal, to steal and carry away, intransitive verb to engage in ransacking and stealing, ~r noun II. transitive verb (~d; rifling) Etymology: perhaps from French ~r to scratch, file, from Middle French, to scrape, plunder Date: 1635 to cut spiral grooves into the bore of , III. noun Date: 1770 1. a shoulder weapon with a ~d bore, a ~d artillery piece, soldiers armed with ~s, IV. transitive verb (~d; rifling) Etymology: 3~ Date: 1937 to propel (as a ball) with great force or speed