marksman

[mahrks-muh n]

See more synonyms for marksman on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural marks·men.

a person who is skilled in shooting at a mark; a person who shoots well.
Military.
1. the lowest rating in rifle marksmanship, below that of sharpshooter and expert.
2. a person who has achieved such a rating.

Origin of marksman

First recorded in 1645–55; mark¹ + 's¹ + -man

Related formsmarks·man·ship, noun

Usage note

See -man.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for marksman

sharpshooter, sniper, shot, deadeye

Examples from the Web for marksman

Contemporary Examples of marksman

The marksman, a lance corporal in the Coldstream Guards, was 930 yards from his target when he squeezed the trigger.
The Greatest Sniper Shot in History: Six Taliban Killed With One Bullet
Nico Hines
April 1, 2014
See, in the war on race I am a foot soldier, not a marksman.
Duh! Of Course Fashion's Racist
Elizabeth Gates
October 14, 2009

Historical Examples of marksman

What a target for a while he would be for every marksman at any range to shoot at!
Lord Kilgobbin
Charles Lever
Two smart cracks at some distance indicated the location of the marksman.
The Rainy Day Railroad War
Holman Day
"You might hit me," said Ebenezer, who knew nothing of Tom's skill as a marksman.
The Young Miner
Horatio Alger, Jr.
The marksman had been Tucker, the fellow hired to take the great scout's life.
The Boy Land Boomer
Ralph Bonehill
I hereby award each of you the bronze medal of Marksman First.
The Galaxy Primes
Edward Elmer Smith

British Dictionary definitions for marksman

marksman

noun plural -men

a person skilled in shooting
a serviceman selected for his skill in shooting, esp for a minor engagement
a qualification awarded in certain armed services for skill in shooting

Derived Formsmarksmanship, nounmarkswoman, fem n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for marksman

1650s, from mark (n.1) in Middle English sense of "target" + man; with genitive -s. Earlier form was markman (1570s).