- snipe (v.)
- "shoot from a hidden place," 1773 (among British soldiers in India), in reference to hunting snipe as game, from snipe (n.). Related: Sniped; sniping.
- snipe (n.)
- long-billed marsh bird, early 14c., from Old Norse -snipa in myrisnipa "moor snipe;" perhaps a common Germanic term (cf. Old Saxon sneppa, Middle Dutch snippe, Dutch snip, Old High German snepfa, German Schnepfe "snipe"). The Old English name was snite, which is of uncertain derivation. An opprobrious term (cf. guttersnipe) since c.1600.