Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Snipe?

\Snipe\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Sniped}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Sniping}.] 1. To shoot or hunt snipe. 2. To shoot at detached men of an enemy's forces at long range, esp. when not in action; -- often with at.
\Snipe\, v. t. 1. To shoot at (detached men of an enemy's force) at long range, esp. when not in action. 2. To nose (a log) to make it drag or slip easily in skidding.
\Snipe\, n. [OE. snipe; akin to D. snep, snip, LG. sneppe, snippe, G. schnepfe, Icel. sn[=i]pa (in comp.), Dan. sneppe, Sw. sn["a]ppa a sanpiper, and possibly to E. snap. See {Snap}, {Snaffle}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline game birds of the family {Scolopacid[ae]}, having a long, slender, nearly straight beak. Note: The common, or whole, snipe ({Gallinago c[oe]lestis}) and the great, or double, snipe ({G. major}), are the most important European species. The Wilson's snipe ({G. delicata}) (sometimes erroneously called English snipe) and the gray snipe, or dowitcher ({Macrohamphus griseus}), are well-known American species. 2. A fool; a blockhead. [R.] --Shak. {Half snipe}, the dunlin; the jacksnipe. {Jack snipe}. See {Jacksnipe}. {Quail snipe}. See under {Quail}. {Robin snipe}, the knot. {Sea snipe}. See in the Vocabulary. {Shore snipe}, any sandpiper. {Snipe hawk}, the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.] {Stone snipe}, the tattler. {Summer snipe}, the dunlin; the green and the common European sandpipers. {Winter snipe}. See {Rock snipe}, under {Rock}. {Woodcock snipe}, the great snipe.