Obs. exc. Hist. Also 6–7 targe(t)tier, 7 targatier, -tyer, targuattier, targue(t)tier, targueteere. [prob. ad. It. targhettiere (Florio), f. targhetta target: see -EER.] A foot-soldier armed with a target; a peltast.
1586–8. in Hakluyt, Voy. (1600), III. 812. Our General himselfe with certaine shot and some targettiers went ouer into the maine.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., III. ii. A band of bow-men and of pikes, Brown bills and targeteers, four hundred strong.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXVIII. v. 670. A thousand targuattiers called Peltati.
1601. R. Johnson, Kingd. & Commw. (1603), 18. He [Chas. VII. of France] … adioined to them Targatiers, Harbengers, Mustermasters.
1676. Hobbes, Iliad, 53. He found him out with many targetiers environed.
1700. G. Booth, trans. Diod. Sic., XVII. 759. Alexander with his Band of Silver Targeteers.
1824. Macaulay, Misc. Writ. (1860), I. 176. The targeteers of Iphicrates.
1881. Jowett, Thucyd., I. 147. The Chalcidian hoplites … were assisted by a few targeteers.
