Early 20th century. From French rafale series of bursts of gunfire, specifically use of rafale gust of wind, further origin uncertain and disputed: see Trésor de la langue française at rafale and Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch at raff-.
Definition of rafale in US English:
rafale
nounrəˈfal
Military
A series of bursts of gunfire.
Origin
Early 20th century. From French rafale series of bursts of gunfire, specifically use of rafale gust of wind, further origin uncertain and disputed: see Trésor de la langue française at rafale and Französisches etymol. Wörterbuch at raff-.