pathfinder 的词源

“发现道路的人，探险者或开拓者”，这个词最早出现在1839年（库珀），由 path（道路）和 finder（发现者）组合而成。

"Pathfinder!"

"So they call me, young woman, and many a great lord has got a title that he did not half so well merit; though, if truth be said, I rather pride myself in finding my way where there is no path, than in finding it where there is. But the regular troops are by no means particular, and half the time they don't know the difference between a trail and a path, though one is a matter for the eye, while the other is little more than scent."

[Cooper, "The Pathfinder"]

“探路者！”

“年轻的女士，他们就是这么称呼我的，许多伟大的领主获得的头衔，未必比我更配；不过说实话，我更为自己能在没有道路的地方找到方向而感到自豪，而不是在有路的地方找到它。但正规军队可不怎么讲究，他们半天都搞不清小径和道路的区别，尽管前者是靠眼睛辨认的，而后者不过是凭借嗅觉罢了。”

[库珀，《探路者》]