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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.

Riffle, Ruffell, v. Also: ryffle, riffel(l; rifle; rufle. [ME and e.m.E. rifile(n (a1352), ryfle(n, OF rifler (c1170 in Larousse) to graze, scratch, strip, plunder, obs. Flem. rijffelen to rub, scratch, scrape, carve, carry off, LG rifeln, Dan. rifle, Sw. refla to groove. See also Rifflet ppl. adj.] tr.

1. To sack or despoil (a place); to pillage.See also quot. 1666 under 2 below.(a) c1420 Wynt. v Prol. 23.
Arbace … Ryfflyd [A. Ruflyte; E.² Ruffyt] Babylon that yhere 1657 Balfour Ann. IV 88.
[Cromwell] riffled the ministers' housses and distrayed ther cornes(b) 1670 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. III 657.
Fearing some prejudice as to his shope some shopes in the toune haveing bein ruffelled some nights before he approched to the said tuo men

b. To search (a person's pockets) with a view to robbing him. 1619 Misc. Bann. C. I 207.
The jailor … riffellit my pockets, so that I was forced to let him see all my money

c. To search through with a view to using material discovered. 1662 Forbes Cantus (1666) Dedic.
The most expert … rifling the labors of their ancestors … did contribute all their pains

2. To carry off as booty.(a) 1666 Justiciary Ct. Rec. I 163.
Ye and your complices … by … your emmissarys … did plunder and riffle the goods and houses of … good subjects 1688 Melville Corr. 102.
Beds, hingins, books, picturs … rifled and brunt(b) 1675 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. IV 660.
Many of the persons whoe frequented the mercat found ther goods and moneyes rufled and pyked from them clandestinly