marksman

[ mahrks-muh n ]

/ ˈmɑrks mən /

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.

the lowest rating in rifle marksmanship, below that of sharpshooter and expert.
a person who has achieved such a rating.

RELATED WORDS

sharpshooter, sniper, shot, deadeye

Nearby words

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Two smart cracks at some distance indicated the location of the marksman.
The Rainy Day Railroad War|Holman Day
But if no such event was foreseen, the marksman must be judged by the circumstances known to him at the time of shooting.
The Common Law|Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.

Marksman knew that so soon as Brighteye began a story, no power on earth would stop him.
The Indian Scout|Gustave Aimard
The man picked it up, and Dick saw that it was a marksman's bronze medal.
Dick Hamilton's Cadet Days|Howard R. Garis
Sooner shall the ball turn back in its course, and bury itself in the entrails of the marksman.
The Robbers|Friedrich Schiller

British Dictionary definitions for marksman

marksman

/ (ˈmɑːksmən) /

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

marksman

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