Plural of marksman; skilled shooters or people who are accurate with firearms or bows.
Compound from 'mark' (target or goal) and 'man,' originating in the 1500s when marksmanship became a valued military skill with the rise of firearms. The 'mark' referred to the target one aimed for.
Medieval and Renaissance societies celebrated marksmanship contests the way we celebrate sports—they were public spectacles where the best archers and musketeers would compete for glory, establishing the idea that accurate shooting was a noble, individual skill worthy of fame.
Marksman/markswoman and marksmen default to male form, reflecting military and hunting culture's historical male dominance. Women competitive shooters and snipers have expanded this field.
Use 'marksman/markswoman' or 'sharpshooter'/'skilled shot' as gender-neutral alternatives when referring to the skill generally.
["sharpshooter","skilled shot","marksperson"]
Female snipers and competitive shooters have earned recognition in military, law enforcement, and sport contexts despite historical exclusion from these roles.
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