\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.

\Ri"fle\, v. i.
1. To raffle. [Obs.] --Chapman.
2. To commit robbery. [R.] --Bp. Hall.

\Ri"fle\, n. [Akin to Dan. rifle, or riffel, the rifle of
a gun, a chamfer (cf. riffel, riffelb["o]sse, 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   it has superseded the musket.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.

\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.