Word origin
[1860–65; ‹ It: lit., marksman, equiv. to
bersagl(
io) target (‹ OF
bersail;
bers(
er) to hunt (perh. ‹ Gmc; cf. MHG
birsen, G
birschen,
pirschen to hunt) +
-ail n. suffix) +
-iere -ary]This word is first recorded in the period 1860–65. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Paleolithic, big brother, calibrate, institutionalism, trade name