marksman

American  

[mahrks-muhn] / ˈmɑrks mən /

noun

marksmen plural

1. a person who is skilled in shooting at a mark; a person who shoots well.

2. Military.

   1. the lowest rating in rifle marksmanship, below that of sharpshooter and expert.

   2. a person who has achieved such a rating.

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marksman British  

/ ˈmɑːksmən /

noun

1. a person skilled in shooting

2. a serviceman selected for his skill in shooting, esp for a minor engagement

3. a qualification awarded in certain armed services for skill in shooting

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Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• marksmanship
  noun
• markswoman
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• marksmen
  plural

Etymology

Origin of marksman

First recorded in 1645–55; mark ¹ + 's ¹ + -man

Explanation

A marksman is someone who is excellent at shooting a gun. A skilled marksman hits the bull’s eye every time. The word mark is from the Middle English word for “target,” so a marksman is a man (or woman) who has excellent aim and shoots a target. In many westerns, the hero is a marksman capable of hitting a small target that’s far away. In real life, police officers and members of the military are trained to be marksmen. Women can be marksmen, too, but if the name bugs you, call them sharpshooters.

Related Words

• sharpshooter
• sniper