rifling Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the cutting of spiral grooves on the inside of the barrel of a firearm
    grooving.
  2. verb steal goods; take as spoils
    pillage; strip; despoil; plunder; foray; rifle; loot; reave; ransack.
    • During the earthquake people looted the stores that were deserted by their owners
  3. verb go through in search of something; search through someone's belongings in an unauthorized way
    go; rifle.
    • Who rifled through my desk drawers?

WordNet


Ri"fling noun
Definitions
  1. The act or process of making the grooves in a rifled cannon or gun barrel.
  2. The system of grooves in a rifled gun barrel or cannon.

Webster 1913