marksman

[mahrks-muh n] /ˈmɑrks mən/
noun, plural marksmen.
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.
Origin
1645-55; mark1 + 's1 + -man
Related forms
marksmanship, noun
Usage note
See -man.
Examples from the web for marksman
  • One of the soldiers rushed at her but she was an expert marksman and dropped him to the floor.
  • He practiced firing into a fence and concluded he was a better marksman than he had thought.
  • As a good marksman, he would do his bit in any fighting.
  • One ad portrayed a well-dressed marksman firing at a target in his living room fireplace while a dog lounged at his feet.
  • There are plenty of rooftops and tall perches for marksman to control and dominate.
  • But the cherubic marksman set a mischievous precedent with all those arrows.
  • The village marksman in his mud-tower now makes the whole valley his zone of fire.
  • Deer hunters must be skilled marksman and follow safe firearm handling techniques.
  • The site was previously used by recreational gold miners, marksman, and the general public.
  • Tom had the perfect eyesight of a trained marksman, and he knew from a half a mile away that this animal was big.
British Dictionary definitions for marksman

marksman

/ˈmɑːksmən/
noun (pl) -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
Derived Forms
marksmanship, noun
markswoman, noun:feminine
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).