rifleman

[ rahy-fuhl-muhn ]

noun

, plural ri·fle·men.

1. a soldier armed with a rifle.
2. a person skilled in the use of a rifle.

rifleman

/ ˈraɪfəlmən /

noun

1. a person skilled in the use of a rifle, esp a soldier
2. Also calledtitipounamu a wren, Acanthisitta chloris , of New Zealand: family Xenicidae See also bush wren

Other Words From

• rifle·man·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of rifleman¹

An Americanism dating back to 1765–75; rifle ¹ + -man

Example Sentences

Eight days before Biden exited the race, a rifleman had opened fire on Trump while he spoke at a campaign rally in Butler, Pa.

From Los Angeles Times

Before becoming a politician he left the British Army as a rifleman to earn a living as the owner a jiu-jitsu gym in Swindon.

From BBC

“One night...there was a tremendous storm blowing, lightning was flashing and flares were still going up,” British rifleman Henry Williamson recalled.

From Literature

It is the position soldiers assume when one of their compatriots is buried and a trio of riflemen fire their weapons seven times in quick succession just before “Taps” is played.

From Salon

One day, some newly arrived riflemen from backwoods Virginia were walking through the yards at Harvard.

From Literature

Related Words

• assassin
• gunman
• hit woman
• murderer
• sniper