cross hair

American  

Or crosshair

noun

1. Also called cross wire.  one of the fine wires or fibers, strands of spider web, or the like, crossing in a focal plane of an optical instrument to center a target or object or to define a line of sight.

2. one of the marks that aid in the positioning of overlaying images for correct registration in printing.

---

Etymology

Origin of cross hair

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

“I’ve had Scott Perry in my cross hairs from the moment I announced my candidacy last October,” she said in an interview.

From New York Times

Cueillette had Michelin justifiably in its cross hairs, and it has paid off: The restaurant was awarded its first star this month.

From New York Times

But then FTX collapsed practically overnight, putting him in the cross hairs of law enforcement.

From New York Times

They are expected to argue that before he fell into investigators’ cross hairs, there was little evidence he was slipping mentally.

From Los Angeles Times

It also signaled that Moscow’s economy is ever more squarely in Ukraine’s cross hairs, bringing the war to one of Russia’s most critical commercial ports.

From New York Times