(rī′fəl) noun
1. A firearm, of any size, having grooves, now always spiral, on the surface of the bore for imparting rotation to the projectile and increasing the accuracy of the weapon.
2. One of these grooves.
3. Such a weapon fired from the shoulder, as distinguished from pistols, a carbine, or artillery, and provided with a device for attaching a bayonet.
4. plural A body of soldiers equipped with rifles.
5. An emery–coated stick for whetting scythes.
—magazine rifle A rifle with a chamber containing extra cartridges which are brought one by one into position for firing; a semi–automatic or repeating rifle.
—v.t. ·fled, ·fling To cut a spirally grooved bore in (a firearm, etc.). [Cf. G reifeln flute, LG rifeln furrow, F rifler scratch; noun, short for rifled gun]
AMERICAN RIFLES
A. Springfield
—Civil War.
B. Garand
—World War II.
C. M–14, Automatic
—1958.

(rī′fəl) v.t. ·fled, ·fling
1. To search through and rob, as a safe.
2. To search and rob (a person).
3. To seize and take away by force. [<OF rifler scratch, plunder <Gmc.]