Ri"fle*bird` (?), n. (Zoöl.) Any one of several species of beautiful
birds of Australia and New Guinea, of the genera Ptiloris and
Craspidophora, allied to the paradise birds.
The largest and best known species is Ptiloris paradisea of Australia.
Its general color is rich velvety brown, glossed with lilac; the under
parts are varied with rich olive green, and the head, throat, and two
middle tail feathers are brilliant metallic green.
Ri"fle*man (?), n.; pl. Rifleman (&?;). (Mil.) A soldier armed with a
rifle.
Ri"fler (?), n. One who rifles; a robber.
Ri"fling (?), n. (a) The act or process of making the grooves in a
rifled cannon or gun barrel. (b) The system of grooves in a rifled gun
barrel or cannon.
Shunt rifling, rifling for cannon, in which one side of the groove is
made deeper than the other, to facilitate loading with shot having
projections which enter by the deeper part of the grooves.
Rift (?), obs. p. p. of Rive. Spenser.
Rift, n. [Written also reft.] [Dan. rift, fr. rieve to rend. See Rive.]
1. An opening made by riving or splitting; a cleft; a fissure. Spenser.