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To seize and bear away by force; to snatch away; to carry off. Till time shall rifle every youthful grace. Pope.

Any one of several species of beautiful birds of Australia and New Guinea, of the genera Ptiloris and Craspidophora, allied to the paradise birds.

A soldier armed with a rifle.

One who rifles; a robber.

A sporting rifle for use at short ranges, employing a large charge of powder and a light (short) bullet, giving a high initial velocity and consequently a flat trajectory. It is usually of moderately large caliber.

A rifle adapted to minie balls.

A breech-loading rifle formerly used in the British service; -- so called from the inventor.

A thing of very little value or importance; a paltry, or trivial, affair. With such poor trifles playing. Drayton. Trifles light as air Are to the jealous confirmation strong As proofs of holy writ. Shak. Small sands the mountain, moments make year, And frifles life. Young.

One who trifles. Waterland.

; trouble; difficulty; troublesome business; fuss; bustle; as, to make a great ado about trifles. With much ado, he partly kept awake. Dryden. Let's follow to see the end of this ado. Shak.

A manufactory of arms, as rifles, muskets, pistols, bayonets, swords. [U.S.]

med for war; in a state of hostility. -- Small arms, portable firearms known as muskets, rifles, carbines, pistols, etc. -- A stand of arms, a complete set for one soldier, as a musket, bayonet, cartridge box and belt; frequently, the musket and bayonet alone. -- To arms! a summons to war or battle. -- Under arms,…

A trifle; a thing of no importance. Rich trifles, serious bagatelles. Prior.

The range within which the fire of small arms is very destructive. With the magazine rifle, this is six hundred yards.

A pointed instrument of the dagger kind fitted on the muzzle of a musket or rifle, so as to give the soldier increased means of offense and defense.

Occupied with, or pertaining to, belles-lettres. "An unlearned, belletristic trifler." M. Arnold.

To utter or tell unnecessarily, or in a thoughtless manner; to publish (secrets or trifles) without reserve or discretion. Udall. And yonder a vile physician blabbing The case of his patient. Tennyson.

A missile, usually of lead, and round or elongated in form, to be discharged from a rifle, musket, pistol, or other small firearm.

The hut or shelter of the person who attends to the targets in rifle practice. Butt chain (Saddlery), a short chain attached to the end of a tug. -- Butt end. The thicker end of anything. See But end, under 2d But. Amen; and make me die a good old man! That's the butt end of a mother's blessing. Shak. A butt's length,…

A short, light musket or rifle, esp. one used by mounted soldiers or cavalry.