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marksman

[mahrks-muh n]
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noun, plural marks·men.
  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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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

Examples from the Web for marksman

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • 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.

  • "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
  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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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

n.

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

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper