cross hair

or crosshair

noun

1. Also called cross wire. one of the fine wires or fibers, strands of spider web, or the like, crossing in a focal plane of an optical instrument to center a target or object or to define a line of sight.
2. one of the marks that aid in the positioning of overlaying images for correct registration in printing. Compare register ( def 11b ).

Word History and Origins

Origin of cross hair¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Musk’s relationship with Trump wasn’t the only one in Kimmel’s cross hairs Thursday.

From Los Angeles Times

He even got the Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisana, to go before the cameras and personally put the judge's daughter in the cross hairs.

From Salon

Mr. Bolsonaro had been voted out of office, ruled ineligible to run in the next election and was in the cross hairs of deepening criminal investigations.

From New York Times

“I’ve had Scott Perry in my cross hairs from the moment I announced my candidacy last October,” she said in an interview.

From New York Times

Amid sporadic nationwide protests against the ruling Islamic government, environmentalists have moved into the regime’s cross hairs, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps often accusing them of spying for Western governments.

From New York Times