The Collaborative International Dictionary
Rifle \Ri"fle\, n. [Akin to Dan. rifle, or riffel, the rifle of a gun, a chamfer (cf. riffel, riffelb["o]sse, a rifle gun, rifle to rifle a gun, G. riefeln, riefen, to chamfer, groove), and E. rive. See Rive, and cf. Riffle, Rivel.]
A gun, the inside of whose barrel is grooved with spiral channels, thus giving the ball a rotary motion and insuring greater accuracy of fire. As a military firearm it has superseded the musket.
pl. (Mil.) A body of soldiers armed with rifles.
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A strip of wood covered with emery or a similar material, used for sharpening scythes.
Rifle pit (Mil.), a trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
Wiktionary
n. (context military English) A trench for sheltering sharpshooters.
Usage examples of "rifle pit".
Starbuck guessed most of the riders had long crossed the river, but a dozen cavalrymen were still waiting on the southern bank as he slipped and skidded into a flooded rifle pit.
A Russian trooper stood in each rifle pit, the noonday sun harsh on their white tunics and glittering weapons.
The men in the rifle pit began shifting the machine gun, but Frank shouted at them to hold their fire.
The rifle pit had opened within five meters of him, and only the haste of the dark-featured guerrilla had saved Rob from his first shot.
Rabbits know where to dig, and a rabbit hole was a rifle pit that was well started, and Frederickson urged the gunners on.