Point man is an American English term used to refer to a soldier who is assigned to a position some distance ahead of a patrol as a lookout, or to a man who leads or inspires others in a business or political role. Phonology North American English regional phonology In many ways compared to English English, North American English is conservative in its Phonology.
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History
The term might be related to the Middle English phrase "in point", which meant "in immediate danger or peril"[1], however, the modern use of the term derives from military tactics. Middle English is the name given by Historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of During a military patrol or infantry operation, the point man walks several meters out in front of everyone else and is likely to be the first one to encounter enemy soldiers. It is a hazardous position that requires alertness and ability to deal with unexpected attacks.
The term was used in the 19th century American Old West when the lead cowboy at the front of a herd of cattle was known as the pointer or point man. A cowboy is an animal Herder who tends Cattle on Ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback and often performs a multitude of It may have come into common use because many of the cowboys in the late 1800s were veterans of the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South In cavalry terminology, the men scouting ahead of the main force were said to be "riding point". This use was first recorded in 1903. [1]
The concept seems to have been introduced to the American military at West Point by Professor Dennis H. "USMA" redirects here For other uses see USMA (disambiguation The United States Military Academy (also known as USMA, Mahan, who taught most of the top officers on both sides in the Civil War. In his Elementary Treatise on Advanced-Guard, Out-Post and Detachment Service of Troops (1861), he discussed the use of the column or V-shaped advance guard by the Greeks and Romans:
Among the orders of battles among the ancients, that known as the wedge, or boar's head, is the most celebrated. In this disposition, the point, or head, is formed of a subdivision of the phalanx of greater or less strength, according to circumstances; this being supported by two, three, and four subdivisions of the same force, one behind another. The phalanx (Ancient Greek φάλαγξ Modern Greek φάλαγγα phālanga (plural phalanxes or phalanges (Ancient and Modern Greek φάλαγγες
In the section on Advanced Guards and Advanced Posts, Professor Mahan introduced the definition of the point man to the future American generals:
From these indications of the manner of distributing the troops of the advanced-guard, the following general dispositions, adapted to ordinary circumstances of locality may be gathered. The apex, or most advanced point, may be formed of a staff, or other intelligent officer, under the escort of a few horsemen. . .
More recently (possibly originating from the late 1960s), the term has been extended to describe someone at the forefront of an issue. It can be used to refer to both the defender or the attacker of the position or idea. This use is most often used in a political context, as the point man is usually in the public eye.
Usage
- In (American) politics it refers to someone leading the defense of a political position.
- The military uses the term to refer to the trailing soldier on a rear guard, who is at risk of ambush from behind. It is also used for the foremost guard however.
- In the commission of crime, usually a robbery, a "point man" is the lookout who stands guard. Robbery is the Crime of seizing Property through Violence or Intimidation.
- Gun dogs and hunting dogs, such as the pointing breed, "makes/comes to a point" by standing rigid and facing the game. Gun dogs or gundogs, also called bird dogs, are types of Dogs developed to assist Hunters in finding and retrieving game usually For the species known as the African hunting dog Cape hunting dog or painted hunting dog see African Wild Dog A hunting dog refers to any Dog who
- In ice hockey the point man is the defence man on the blue line of the offensive position in the "attacking zone"; in basketball the point guard directs the team's offense in the front court. Ice hockey, often referred to simply as hockey, is a team Sport played on Ice. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Point guard ( PG) also called the one or " the ball-handler " is one of the standard positions in a regulation Basketball game [1]
Notes
- ^ a b c http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=20001017 The Mavens' Word of the Day: point man
References and further reading
- Random House Word of the Day Entry on point man
- Elementary Treatise on Advanced-Guard, Out-Post and Detachment Service of Troops (1861)
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