rifling

¹

[ rahy-fling ]

noun

1. the act or process of cutting spiral grooves in a gun barrel, pipe, etc.
2. the system of spiral grooves so cut.

rifling

²

[ rahy-fling ]

noun

1. the act or process of ransacking or robbing.

rifling

/ ˈraɪflɪŋ /

noun

1. the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of a firearm's barrel
2. the series of grooves so cut

Word History and Origins

Origin of rifling¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; rifle ¹ + -ing ¹

Origin of rifling²

rifle ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

This was meant to put boosters on the near-trillion-tonne berg, rifling it up into the South Atlantic and certain oblivion.

From BBC

He did so, but then the neighbour found him rifling through drawers and cupboards for things to steal.

From BBC

Marc Skinner's side remained firmly in control and struck once more as Lisa Naalsund atoned for an earlier miss by rifling home from the edge of the box as Brighton failed to clear a set-piece.

From BBC

She described how the couple stopped going shopping for fear of being caught and started rifling through bins at Brighton's Hollingbury Golf Club.

From BBC

The England forward got his second just after the restart, latching on to a clever Odegaard pass then cutting inside and rifling a shot into the roof of the net.

From BBC

Related Words

• rip