1775, "portable firearm having a spirally grooved bore," used earlier of the grooves themselves (1751), noun use of rifled (pistol), 1680s, from verb meaning "to cut spiral grooves in" (a gun barrel); see rifle (v.2).
rifle (v.1)
"to plunder," early 14c. (implied in rifling), from Old French rifler "strip, filch, plunder, peel off (skin or bark), fleece," literally "to graze, scratch" (12c.), probably from a Germanic source (compare Old English geriflian "to wrinkle," Old High German riffilon "to tear by rubbing," Old Norse rifa "to tear, break"). Related: Rifled; rifling.
rifle (v.2)
"to cut spiral grooves in" (a gun barrel), 1630s, probably from French rifler, from Old French rifler "to scratch or groove" (see rifle (v.1)). Related: Rifled; rifling.
雙語例句
1. They shot him at point blank range with an automatic rifle.
他們用自動步槍近距離開槍射殺了他。
來自柯林斯例句
2. He fixed a bayonet to the end of his rifle.
他在步槍口上安好了刺刀。
來自柯林斯例句
3. Neighbours heard the sound of rifle fire and alerted the police.
鄰居們聽到了步槍聲，就報了警。
來自柯林斯例句
4. Tom was leading, a rifle slung over his back.
湯姆走在前面，背上掛著一支步槍。
來自柯林斯例句
5. Troops used tear gas and rifle butts to break up the protests.