Rifleman
/ˈraɪfəlmən/noun
A soldier armed with a rifle, especially one trained for marksmanship.
Did you know?The word *rifle* likely comes from French *rifler*, meaning “to scratch, scrape, or groove,” so *rifleman* is literally a man of the grooved barrel, not some ancient war title.
Etymological Timeline
Early Modern English
English
rifle
“A gun with spiral grooves inside the barrel, designed to spin and stabilize the projectile.”
16th Century
French
rifler
“To scrape, scratch, or groove.”
Late 16th Century
French
rifle
“A grooved or rifled gun barrel; later, a firearm using such a barrel.”
17th Century
English
rifleman
“A man armed with a rifle, especially a soldier trained to use one.”
Modern English
English
rifleman
“A soldier or shooter equipped with a rifle.”