weaponsman

English

Etymology

weapons +‎ -man

Noun

weaponsman (plural weaponsmen)

1. A member of a group that is armed with and has the job of using some type of weapon.
   • 1974, Lauran Paine, Saladin; a man for all ages, page 13:

     Crusaders were kings, lords, wretches, children, women, weaponsmen, churchmen, hermits, harlots, adventurers.

   • 1976, Lauran Paine, The Invisible World of Espionage, page 73:

     The Secret Intelligence section was made up of a truly amazing coterie of people, from spies and demolition experts to skilled linguists in every known language, vastly skilled weaponsmen, clandestine radio experts, para-military commandos, experts in every kind of mayhem -- mostly silent, naturalized, loyal Americans who had been born in every enemy country, and groups of combat-commandos, the best available to accompany secret agents into enemy country as protectors.

   • 1985, Robert E. Vardeman, Blood fountain, page 35:

     In the next instant six of the weaponsmen went down, their cries of alarm drowning the Challing's laughter as he ran down a dark alley at the heels of his fellow thief.

2. (military, usually qualified by a type of weapon) A soldier who is a specialist in a specific type of weapon.
   • 1960, Tri-service Conference on Job Qualifications Analysis, page 5:

     For example, a fairly new rating in the Navy is that of nuclear weaponsman. Before this rating was established, a very thorough analysis of enlisted duties in nuclear weapons units was made.

   • 1980 Winter, “New Canadfian Forces Exchange Officer Arrives at NEDU”, in Faceplate, volume 11, page 5:

     LT Coulombe was commissioned from the ranks in 1969, after 11 years enlisted as an underwater weaponsman.

   • 1982, Sentinel - Volumes 18-19, page IVI:

     The division also maintains a mockup ASROC (antisub rocket) mounting, to train weaponsmen from west coast ships fitted with ASROC.

   • 1998, Dennis J. Cummings, The Men Behind the Trident: Seal Team One in Vietnam, page 226:

     We had three automatic-weaponsmen in a SEAL squad at that time. Two carried Stoners, and one had an M-60. 1 was a little too small for the M-60, but I could shoot the Stoner well.

   • 1990, John Lansing, Nguy-Hiem War Zone, page 57:

     Laden with mortars, ammo, and a Browning .50-caliber heavy machine gun, the heavy weaponsmen lumbered after the two to the position Gunnar had chosen.

   • 1998, J. C. Doherty, The shock of war:

     On the hill to the northeast of the crossroads and the N-32, the 3rd Battalion's provisional company of rifle and light weaponsmen do not know what is going on.