Weaponeer

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Someone who is an expert in the use, handling, or maintenance of weapons
2. A person trained and practised in the skilful handling of arms and armaments
3. One who is accomplished at operating and managing weapons of various kinds

Etymology: "Weaponeer" is simply a compound of "weapon" and the suffix "-eer", which English attaches to nouns to name a person connected with a particular activity or job. Its most familiar relatives are "engineer", "auctioneer" and "mountaineer", all of which follow the same pattern: a person who works with or handles the thing named by the base word. A weaponeer, then, is someone who handles or works with weapons, typically in the sense of an expert who manages, maintains or deploys them. The suffix "-eer" came into English through Old French "-ier", from Latin "-arius", a common agent ending, and its reach in English has grown steadily, so it can be attached to almost any noun to name a practitioner. Because the formation is transparent, the word needs little explanation beyond its parts: the base is plain English "weapon", and the ending does the work of turning it into a job title.

Synonyms: armorer, weaponsmith