franc-tireur

[frahn-tee-rœr]

noun

French.

plural

francs-tireurs 

1. a sharpshooter in the French army.

franc-tireur

/ frɑ̃tirœr /

noun

1. a sniper

2. a guerrilla or irregular soldier

Word History and Origins

Origin of franc-tireur¹

First recorded in 1800–10

Word History and Origins

Origin of franc-tireur¹

C19: from franc free + tireur shooter, from tirer to shoot, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

Fryatt was then taken away to Bruges to stand trial on charges of being franc-tireur - a civilian engaged in hostile military activity.

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Teenage fighter Moreau was attacked as a "franc-tireur" or "free shooter", as a civilian taking up arms.

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He was tried in Bruges on charges of being franc-tireur - a civilian engaged in hostile military activity.

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There might have been a franc-tireur behind every tree.

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This is one of the many nefarious franc-tireur proceedings of the British merchant marine against our war vessels, and it has found a belated but merited expiation.

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