Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A man skilled in shooting at a target.
  • noun A classification in the US Army and Marine Corps for the lowest of three ratings of rifle proficiency.
  • noun One who holds this rating.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A soldier who makes 60 per cent. at target practice at ranges up to 600 yards.
  • noun One who is skilful in shooting with a gun or a bow; one who readily hits the mark; a good shooter.
  • noun One who, not being able to write, makes his mark instead of signing his name.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One skillful to hit a mark with a missile; one who shoots well. especially with a pistol or rifle.
  • noun (Law) One who makes his mark, instead of writing his name, in signing documents.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A man skilled in shooting (a gun) at a target.
  • noun soccer goalscorer.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun someone skilled in shooting

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word marksman.

Examples

  • Faced nagging back trouble earlier in the year, but remains a marksman from the tee who is not afraid to go for it with a championship on the line.

    USATODAY.com - Five players to watch 2001

  • There is Invariably a shooting-gallery, where, at a distance of some twelve paces, the bold marksman from the Black Forest pops little shuttlecock bolts from a spring gun at a grotesque figure made of painted wood, which, on being wounded in the 'bull's-eye,' whisks round on a pivot and jerks into its place a lovely woman, also of painted wood.

    Lager Beer in New York 1864

  • I was not what you might call a marksman in those days, and so I set a bit of [v] hummock about ten yards off as a limit where I could not very conveniently miss, and waited until the bear should come opposite that.

    The Literary World Seventh Reader Hetty Sibyl Browne 1907

  • On this trip his frontier training and skill as a marksman were the means of saving a life.

    Last of the great scouts; the life story of Col. William F. Cody ("Buffalo Bill") as told by his sister, Helen Cody Wetmore 1899

  • On this trip his frontier training and skill as a marksman were the means of saving a life.

    Last of the Great Scouts The Life Story of William F Cody Wetmore, Helen C 1899

  • Now I know Oliver Queen is a bow and arrow expert, but I've seen this guy in the comics too, and a marksman is a marksman.

    Mania News Feed 2009

  • Now I know Oliver Queen is a bow and arrow expert, but I've seen this guy in the comics too, and a marksman is a marksman.

    Mania News Feed 2009

  • They might allow him "marksman," a lesser honorific.

    Sniper in Afghan Town 2010

  • Perhaps it is the same "marksman" who assumes all road signs are merely targets posted for his personal enjoyment.

    ReadABlog.com New Blogs and RSS Feeds 2010

  • And one of the best rifle shooters I have ever met qualified only as "marksman" in Basic Training.

    Latest Articles 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.