ranger

[reyn-jer] /ˈreɪn dʒər/
noun
1.
forest ranger.
2.
one of a body of armed guards who patrol a region.
3.
(initial capital letter) a U.S. soldier in World War II specially trained for making surprise raids and attacks in small groups.
Compare commando (def 1).
4.
a soldier specially trained in the techniques of guerrilla warfare, especially in jungle terrain.
5.
a person who ranges or roves.
6.
(especially in Texas) a member of the state police.
7.
British. a keeper of a royal forest or park.
8.
Building Trades. wale1 (def 5).
9.
(initial capital letter) one of a series of instrumented U.S. space probes launched in the 1960s that transmitted closeup pictures of the moon before impacting the lunar surface.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English; see range, -er1
Related forms
underranger, noun
Examples from the web for ranger
  • Crew members networked with every ranger and park supervisor they met.
  • Wilderness ranger and back-country guard jobs involve hiking trails by day and camping out at night, often alone.
  • They left the area and discussed this with the ranger.
  • Usually on a tour a ranger gathers everyone and, after a warning, switches off the lights.
  • The goal of a national park ranger is to protect and preserve public resources while helping people enjoy them.
British Dictionary definitions for ranger

ranger

/ˈreɪndʒə/
noun
1.
(sometimes capital) an official in charge of a forest, park, estate, nature reserve, etc
2.
(mainly US) a person employed to patrol a State or national park or forest Brit equivalent warden
3.
(US) one of a body of armed troops employed to police a State or district: a Texas Ranger
4.
(in the US and certain other armies) a commando specially trained in making raids
5.
a person who wanders about large areas of country; a rover

Ranger1

/ˈreɪndʒə/
noun
1.
(Brit) a member of the senior branch of the Guides

Ranger2

/ˈreɪndʒə/
noun
1.
any of a series of nine American lunar probes launched between 1961 and 1965, three of which transmitted to earth photographs of the moon
Word Origin and History for ranger
n.

late 14c., "gamekeeper," agent noun from range (v.)). Attested from 1660s in sense of "man (often mounted) who polices an area." The elite U.S. combat unit is attested from 1942 (organized 1941).

Encyclopedia Article for ranger

in U.S. military usage, a soldier specially trained to act in small groups that make rapid surprise raids on enemy territory. Ranger has also been the designation for the Texas state constabulary and for national-park supervisors and forest wardens.

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