(Mil.) The lead soldier in a foot patrol under combat conditions.
2.
A person who takes a conspicuous public position in proposing a new idea or initiating a new policy, who may become a target of criticism for those opposed. "The Secretary of State served as point man for the administration's new China policy."
... Then he glanced at his companion out of the tail of his eye. "I s'pose it's your education, boy. That's what's wrong with you. Your head's running wheels. You come into cattle too late. You've got city doings down your backbone, and I guess you need weeding bad. Say, you're a West Point man, ain't you?" ... — The One-Way Trail - A story of the cattle country • Ridgwell Cullum
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