shooter English · revision 10349

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1297|origins=en shoot}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈʃuː.tə/, US /ˈʃuː.t̬ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English shetere, shoter, [[inh|ang|scēotere]], an agent noun from [[shoot]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who shoots, at first with a bow, an archer: 1297.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The constellation Sagittarius was the Shooter in 1386.^(OED 1989) A person who shoots game for sport is a later specialization,^(SOED 2002) and the guard of a coach, originally armed, from 1840.^(OED 1989) A gun of a specified kind is by 1812,^(Etymonline) and in sport a player who shoots at goal from 1901.^(OED 1989) One who throws dice or marbles is from 1910,^(OED 1989) and a small alcoholic drink, a variant of shot, by 1971.^(Etymonline) ''Shootee'' is attested from 1837.^(Etymonline) In cricket a shooter is a ball that keeps unexpectedly low after pitching.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1297 – an archer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1386 – Sagittarius.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1812 – a gun.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1840 – a coach guard.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1901 – a player shooting at goal.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1971 – a small drink.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or thing that shoots, especially a person who fires a gun.^(Collins 2023)^(SOED 2002)

+ # ''(slang)'' A [[gun]].^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(sport)'' A player who shoots at goal.^(OED 1989)

+ # ''(cricket)'' A ball that travels unexpectedly low after pitching.^(Collins 2023)

+ # A small drink of liquor.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[crapshooter]]

+ * [[snapshooter]]

+ * [[trapshooter]]

+ * [[troubleshooter]]

+ * [[six-shooter]]

+ * [[peashooter]]

+ * [[sharpshooter]]

+ * [[square shooter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[shoot]]

+ * [[shot]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}