释义 |
ri·fle I. \ˈrīfəl\ verb (rifled ; rifled ; rifling \-f(ə)liŋ\ ; rifles) Etymology: Middle English riflen, from Middle French rifler to scratch, file, plunder, from Old French, of Germanic origin; akin to obsolete Dutch rijffelen to scrape, groove, Middle Dutch riven to rake — more at rivel transitive verb 1. : to ransack and rob or plunder : pillage thoroughly : despoil completely < his mail was repeatedly rifled — William MacDonald > < not only dug deep into local archives but rifled the memories of farmers — Newsweek > 2. : to steal and carry away : snatch away : carry off < till time shall rifle every youthful grace — Alexander Pope > intransitive verb : to engage in ransacking and pillaging < rifling through her desk in a desperate search for writing materials — Brand Blanshard > Synonyms: see rob II. noun (-s) Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French, perhaps from Old French rifler to scratch, file 1. : a strip of wood covered with emery or similar material and used for sharpening scythes 2. Britain : a bent stick fastened at the butt of a scythe and serving to lay the mowed grain in rows III. transitive verb (rifled ; rifled ; rifling \-f(ə)liŋ\ ; rifles) : to whet with a rifle < rifling scythes and filing hoes — William Humphrey > IV. transitive verb (rifled ; rifled ; rifling \-f(ə)liŋ\ ; rifles) Etymology: French rifler to scratch, file, from Middle French : to cut spiral grooves into the bore of (as a firearm or piece of ordnance) < rifled arms > < rifled pipe > V. noun (-s) 1. archaic : one of the spiral grooves in the bore of a rifled firearm 2. a. : a firearm having a rifled bore and intended to be fired from the shoulder — see carbine; compare musket, pistol, shotgun b. : a rifled artillery piece < startling crack of a single great fourteen-inch rifle, carefully aimed — K.M.Dodson > 3. a. : rifleman < appointed captain of a Maryland company of rifles — American Guide Series: Maryland > b. rifles plural : a body of soldiers armed with rifles < the 6th Gurkha Rifles > 4. or rifle green : a dark grayish olive green to black 5. : a mobile lighting unit with a spirally ribbed parabolic reflector throwing a narrow beam that is used especially in television and motion-picture making VI. transitive verb (rifled ; rifled ; rifling \-f(ə)liŋ\ ; rifles) Etymology: rifle (V) : to hit or throw (a ball) with great force < rifled a single to center field > |