verb
rifle
To search roughly through someone's belongings.
He rifles through my desk drawers, scattering papers across the floor.
Etymology
The older French verb meant to plunder or strip. Rifling belongings retains that intrusive search associated with taking what one finds.
More examples
- Someone rifled through her suitcase and left her clothes everywhere.
- Stop rifling through my backpack without asking.
- The thieves rifle through coat pockets looking for cash.
Forms
rifle · rifles · rifled · rifling