hunter English · revision 5736

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=c. 1250}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈhʌntə/ ''(UK)''; /ˈhʌntɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is formed [[af|en|hunt|-er]],^(Etymonline)^(SOED 2002)^(MWU 2024) Middle English hunter, from hunten “to hunt”.^(MWU 2024) It replaced the Old English agent noun hunta, Middle English hunte.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ One who chases game or other wild animals: about 1250 in the OED, the mid-13th century in Etymonline, where it is also found in place names from the late 12th century.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ One who searches eagerly for something, often in compounds such as ''fortune-hunter'', is from about 1374.^(OED 1989)^(SOED 2002) A dog used for hunting is from 1605, and a horse bred for hunting, usually a strong, fast jumper, from 1687.^(OED 1989)^(AHD) Light infantry soldiers, translating German Jäger and French chasseur, were called hunters from 1753.^(OED 1989) The ''hunter's moon'', the next full moon after the harvest moon, is from 1710.^(Etymonline) A hunter is also a watch with a hinged cover over the glass, from 1851.^(OED 1989)^(COED 2004) In Ireland and northern England a good mousing cat was called a hunter.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * late 12th century – in place names.^(Etymonline)

+ * c. 1250 – one who hunts.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1374 – one who seeks something.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – a hunting dog.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1687 – a hunting horse.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1710 – the ''hunter's moon''.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1851 – a hunting watch.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person or animal that [[hunt|alt=hunts]] wild animals.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who searches for something: ''a bargain hunter''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[horse]] bred for hunting, strong and a good jumper.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[dog]] bred or trained for hunting.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # A [[watch]] with a hinged cover protecting the glass.^(COED 2004)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[hunterlike]]

+ * [[demi-hunter]]

+ * [[foxhunter]]

+ * [[headhunter]]

+ * [[hunter-gatherer]]

+ * [[hunter-killer]]

+ * [[pothunter]]

+ * [[spiderhunter]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[huntress]]

+ * [[huntsman]]

+ * [[hunting]]

+ * [[hunt]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}