snipe

[snahyp]

noun

plural

snipes ,

plural

snipe .

1. Also snite any of several long-billed game birds of the genera Gallinago (sometimesCapella ) and Limnocryptes, inhabiting marshy areas, as G. gallinago common 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, sniping 

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. to attack (a person or persons) with a rifle from a place of concealment

2. to criticize adversely a person or persons from a position of security

3. (intr) to hunt or shoot snipe

Other Word Forms

• snipelike adjective
• sniper noun
• countersniper 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

If elected, she pledged to have "difficult conversations" with the leadership, while refusing to "snipe from the sidelines".

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"He doesn't have a seat in Parliament, wouldn't necessarily find or win one," and one minister snipes, "any chance to have a dig – Burnham will never miss an opportunity".

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Others in the party are trying to stop the sniping.

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McGhie then broke from Scotland's half to set up Scotland's third, the forwards trucked it up to the line allowing Brebner-Holden the opportunity to snipe as all good scrum halves do.

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Officers have sniped about his burly build, tendency to smile during interviews and other eccentricities.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hoot 
• quip 
• ridicule 
• scoff 
• sneer 
• taunt