rifleman

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁reyp- Proto-Germanic *rīfaną Proto-Germanic *-lōną Proto-Germanic *rīfilōną Proto-West Germanic *rīfilōn Frankish *rīffilōnbor. Old French riflerbor. Middle English riflen English rifle Proto-Indo-European *mon- Proto-Germanic *mann- Proto-West Germanic *mann Old English mann Middle English man Middle English -man English -man English rifleman From rifle + -man.

1. A soldier trained to use a rifle as a primary weapon.

   “The riflemen had not been issued their weapons yet, and hence they trained with wooden mock-up rifles.”

   “Anil Gurung joined the Army in 2006 as a rifleman with the 2nd Royal Gurkha Regiment.”

2. A person especially skilled in the use of a rifle.

   “She was quite the rifleman and could pick off a squirrels with a .22 from across the field with amazing accuracy.”

3. A small wrenlike insectivorous passerine bird endemic to New Zealand, Acanthisitta chloris, the titipounamu.