snipe

[ snahyp ]

noun

, plural snipes, (especially collectively) snipe

1. Also British, snite []. any of several long-billed game birds of the genera Gallinago (sometimes Capella ) and Limnocryptes, inhabiting marshy areas, as G. gallinago com·mon snipe, orwhole snipe, of Eurasia and North America, having barred and striped white, brown, and black plumage.
2. any of several other long-billed birds, as some sandpipers.
3. a shot, usually from a hidden position.

verb (used without object)

, sniped, snip·ing.

1. to shoot or hunt snipe.
2. to shoot at individuals as opportunity offers from a concealed or distant position:

   The enemy was sniping from the roofs.

3. to attack a person or a person's work with petulant or snide criticism, especially anonymously or from a safe distance.

snipe

/ snaɪp /

noun

1. any of various birds of the genus Gallinago (or Capella ) and related genera, such as G. gallinago ( common or Wilson's snipe ), of marshes and river banks, having a long straight bill: family Scolopacidae (sandpipers, etc), order Charadriiformes
2. any of various similar related birds, such as certain sandpipers and curlews
3. a shot, esp a gunshot, fired from a place of concealment

verb

1. whenintr, often foll by at to attack (a person or persons) with a rifle from a place of concealment
2. introften foll byat to criticize adversely a person or persons from a position of security
3. intr to hunt or shoot snipe

Derived Forms

• ˈsnipeˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• snipe·like adjective
• snip·er noun
• coun·ter·snip·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of snipe¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English snype (noun), from Old Norse -snīpa (in mȳrisnīpa “moor snipe”); cognate with Norwegian snipa, Icelandic snīpa; compare Danish sneppe, German Schnepfe

Word History and Origins

Origin of snipe¹

C14: from Old Norse snīpa; related to Old High German snepfa Middle Dutch snippe

Example Sentences

In short: After an unusually exhausting summer of bullets, conventions, and presidential drop-outs, the news is returning—just for this last week before Labor Day!—to its typical August lull, an annual season in which political spokespeople snipe at each other over the logistics of big events to come.

From Slate

Scotland have a penalty after a high tackle from Sara Seye on Caity Mattinson, who tried a little snipe.

From BBC

But Google executives, after watching employees snipe about the war in Gaza in recent months, are making big changes to turn down the temperature on their company’s beloved message board, according to documents reviewed by The New York Times.

From New York Times

This study enables us to identify species that are particularly sensitive to human activity and need more protected habitats to thrive, for example the Great Snipe in Europe, the Nkulengu Rail in Africa and the Hume's Lark in Asia.

From Science Daily

On today’s episode of A Word, Jason Johnson is joined by Margo Snipe, a health reporter for CapitalB News.

From Slate