Bullseye

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbʊlzaɪ/

Definitions

1. A central area that signifies the highest score in shooting games like darts or archery
2. The exact middle point of a target that yields the maximum possible score in various aiming competitions
3. A mark representing the perfect aim spot often used as the ultimate goal in precision sports involving projectiles

Etymology: "Bullseye" is a compound of "bull's" and "eye," and the most striking part of its story is the uncertain legend behind the first half. One account holds that English archers once shot at a bull's skull, aiming for the eye socket as a test of marksmanship. The idea is appealing, but it is a suggestion rather than something documented, and the word's origin should be treated as unconfirmed. The term's meaning in English is simpler: it names the centre of a target, and by extension a direct hit on it. The word is also used in philately, where the "bullseye" is a circular cancellation or postmark, and in that sense it refers to the shape of the key plate or vignette, which resembles a target.

Synonyms: target, center