A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)
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First published 1990 (DOST Vol. VII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1584-1590
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Rifle, Ryfle, v. [ME and e.m.E. ryuel (Manning), ryvell (1530), obs. F. rivler (OED) to ravel.] tr. To rifle (something) up, to unravel, disentangle, fray out. fig. or in fig. context. — 1584 Calderwood IV 42.
In knotts and knars, that skarse can one tell how to beginne to unloose and rifle up the same c1590 Fowler I 385/217.
Nowe this, nowe that, I ryfle vpp Within my buissy brayne
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"Rifle v.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 16 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/rifle>
