noun

rifle

rifle

The soldier carried a rifle.

The soldier carried a rifle.

He won a hunting rifle in the lottery.

He won a hunting rifle in the lottery.

((a/the)) + ((rifle)) He cleaned his rifle.

((adjective)) + ((rifle)) It was a high-powered rifle.

Synonyms: firearm, gun, carbine

From the verb 'rifle,' meaning to cut spiral grooves in a gun barrel. These grooves, called 'rifling', make the bullet spin for accuracy.

The word 'rifle' itself refers to the 'rifling' (grooves) inside the barrel. Think of a 'rippled' or grooved barrel.

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