1Military. A member of the ranks; a rank and file soldier.
2Scottish (chiefly Shetland). In plural: the crew of a fishing boat working together with another (or others). Also in singular: either of two boats working in this way.
Origin
Mid 19th century. From either the plural or the genitive of rank + man.
Definition of ranksman in US English:
ranksman
nounˈraŋksmən
1Military. A member of the ranks; a rank and file soldier.
2Scottish (chiefly Shetland). In plural: the crew of a fishing boat working together with another (or others). Also in singular: either of two boats working in this way.
Origin
Mid 19th century. From either the plural or the genitive of rank + man.