marksman
(ˈmɑːksmən)
[f. mark's, genitive of mark n.1 + man n.1]
1. a. One skilled or practised in shooting or aiming at a mark. (Cf. the earlier markman.)
| 1660 F. Brooke tr. Le Blanc's Trav. 110 Often, the King gives rewards to the best marks-men. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 39 ¶36 A good Marks-man will be sure to hit his Man at 20 Yards Distance. 1816 Scott Antiq. xx, M'Intyre is said to be a marksman. 1885 Manch. Exam. 14 July 4/6 The rather low records made by old marksmen on the Common. |
b. A title of merit awarded for a certain recognized degree of proficiency in rifle practice.
| 1859 Musketry Instr. 72 Certain of the first-class shots to be styled ‘marksmen’. |
2. One who marks out land.
| 1654 in Sir W. Petty Down Surv. iii. (1851) 16 The admeasurers..paid little for their diet and lodging, bounders, marksmen, spademen, &c. |
3. One who makes a mark in place of a signature.
| 1777 Nicholson & Burn Hist. Westmoreld. & Cumberl. II. 324 note, In the Original Solemn League and Covenant..there are abundance of marksmen, all of whom, from their abhorrence of popery..leave the cross unfinished. 1813 Col. Bagwell Sp. Ho. Comm. 24 Feb., Of these 3000 names, none were marksmen. 1885 T. Hughes in Law Times LXXX. 45/1 The..drover who signed the contract was a marksman. |
4. A grade or degree amongst Orangemen.
| 1800 in Orange Syst. Exposed (1823) 81, I will keep this part of a Marksman from an Orangeman, as well as from the ignorant... I will be aiding and assisting to all true honest Orange Marksmen. 1813 Gen. Hist. in Ann. Reg. 93/2 The oath of a Marchman or Marksman, the name of one further initiated in their secrets. |
5. One who ranges competitors in a race.
| 1887 M. Shearman Athletics & Football 57 The starter is helped by a ‘marksman’, who places the men on the scratch. 1897 Encycl. Sport I. 62 s.v. Athletics. |
6. (See quot.)
| 1901 Blackw. Mag. Nov. 660/1 The ‘Marksman’..whose function it is to superintend the marking of the Forest Ponies. |