riffle

Meanings

Noun

• A swift, shallow part of a stream causing broken water.
• A succession of small waves.
• A trough or sluice having cleats, grooves, or steps across the bottom for holding quicksilver and catching particles of gold when auriferous earth is washed. Also one of the cleats, grooves or steps in such trough.
• A quick skim through the pages of a book.
• The act of shuffling cards; the sound made while shuffling cards.
• In seal engraving, a small metal disc at the end of a tool.

Verb

• To flow over a swift, shallow part of a stream.
• To ruffle with a rippling action.
• To skim or flick through the pages of a book.
• To leaf through rapidly.
• To shuffle playing cards by separating the deck in two and sliding the thumbs along the edges of the cards to mix the two parts.
• To idly manipulate objects with the fingers.
• To prepare samples of material using a riffler.

Related

Narrower meaning words

• white water

Origin

• Possible alteration of ruffle, from Middle English ruffelen, akin to Low German ruffelen ("to crumple").
• Danish ("a groove")