Crosshair
/ˈkrɒs.heə(r)/noun
A pair of fine lines that intersect in a target sight or optical instrument.
Did you know?The word comes from the intersection of a cross with a hair-thin line, and that visual “cross” echoes the deep symbolic history of the cross as a mark of alignment, division, and focus.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
cros
“a cross, especially the Christian symbol”
Old English
OE
hær
“hair; a fine thread-like filament”
Middle English
ME
cros hær
“a hair-like line crossing another line”
19th Century
English
cross-hair
“a fine intersecting line in a sighting device”
Modern English
English
crosshair
“the intersecting lines used for aiming or alignment”