ranger English · revision 15344

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1455}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɹeɪ̯nd͡ʒə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɹeɪ̯nd͡ʒɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|raunger]], an agent noun from [[m|enm|raungen|t=to range]] (see [[range]]).^(MWU 2024)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A gamekeeper, a sworn officer who walks through a forest to protect it: the late 14th century in Etymonline (early 14th century in surnames), 1455 in the OED.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ A rover or wanderer is from the 1590s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A man, often mounted, who polices an area is from the 1660s,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) as in the Texas Rangers,^(Collins 2023) and in America an officer who rounds up stray livestock from 1744.^(OED 1989) The elite American combat unit of Rangers is so called from 1942.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A warden of a national park is a modern sense.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1455 – a forest officer.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1593 – a rover.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1670 – mounted troops patrolling an area.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1942 – a US Army Ranger.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # An official who looks after and patrols a [[forest]], park or nature reserve; a [[warden]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A member of a body of armed men who patrol a region.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A soldier trained for raids and close combat.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A wanderer or rover.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[bushranger]]

+ * [[underranger]]

+ * [[Texas ranger]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[range]]

+ * [[rank]]

+ * [[arrange]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ In British use a Ranger is also a member of the senior branch of the Guides.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}