Recognosser

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. To explore an area, terrain, or situation in order to gain information or survey it for military, strategic, or investigative purposes
2. To conduct a preliminary inspection or survey of a place or condition to gather necessary details or assess potential challenges
3. To perform a systematic observation or examination of a location or circumstance to obtain knowledge for planning or decision-making purposes

Etymology: Its root meaning is simply "to recognize." Latin "recognoscere" combined "re-" (again) with "cognoscere" (to know), so the original sense was to know something again, or to identify it. The English verb "recognize" comes straight from that Latin root. "Reconnoiter" came through French, where "reconnaître" kept the same meaning of recognizing or acknowledging, so the two English words are doublets, one borrowed directly and one passed through French. The military sense developed in French. To recognize enemy positions, terrain, and movements, a scout had to look closely and learn what was there. That practical sense of identifying a place's features took over, and English adopted it for surveying ground before an attack. From there it broadened to any careful survey made to inform a decision.