See Also: M16 rifle(encyclopedia)
rifle(encyclopedia)
air rifle(dictionary)
rifle(5)(dictionary)
rifle(4)(dictionary)
rifle(3)(dictionary)
rifle(2)(dictionary)
rifle(1)(dictionary)
rifle(medicine)
rifle 1, noun(dictionary)

rifle(2) (iou)



rifle noun2. L17.
[from RIFLE verb3.]
1. Each of a set of spiral grooves cut on the interior surface of the barrel or bore of a gun. Earliest in rifle gun below. L17.
2. A gun, esp. one fired from shoulder-level, having a long spirally grooved barrel intended to make a bullet etc. spin and thereby have greater accuracy over a longer distance. Freq. with specifying word. L18.
Enfield rifle, Garand rifle, Kentucky rifle, Mannlicher rifle, Martini rifle, Springfield rifle, etc. express rifle: see EXPRESS adjective. telescopic-rifle: see TELESCOPIC 1.
b. In pl. Troops armed with rifles, riflemen. M19.
c. A hunter armed with a rifle. Cf. GUN noun 4. M20.
Comb.: rifle-green adjective & noun (of) the dark green colour of a rifleman's uniform; rifle-gun (now arch. & US dial.): = sense 2 above; rifle microphone, (colloq.) rifle mike US = gun microphone s.v. GUN noun; rifle-range (a) the distance able to be reached by a bullet from a rifle; (b) a place for practising shooting with a rifle; rifle regiment a regiment of troops armed with rifles; rifle-shot (a) = rifle-range (a) above; (b) a person skilled (to a specified degree) in shooting with a rifle; (c) a shot fired with a rifle.
riflery noun (chiefly US) rifles collectively; firing from or shooting with rifles: M19.
riflescope noun (US) a telescopic rifle sight M20.