This isn't a question, it's a brief explanation of the history of the word "sniper." Many of you may already know it, and if so, just skip it and don't bitch.

SNIPE: Any of various long-billed shore birds of the genus Gallinago or Capella. A sniper was original someone who hunted snipe. A snipe isn't a particularly meaty bird, or a good-tasting one at that. It's uniqueness is in that of it's ability to escape hunters. It's ocnsidered one of the hardest small-prey to hit. So called "snipers" originally hunted the bird for practice, for bigger game. Eventually, many a hunter targetted the bird for honor and bragging rights, and this lead to sniping tournaments.

The definition of "Sniper" has changed a lot since then, but still based on the same idea of stalking and scouting, while the acheiving your ultimate goal of taking out your target (mostly from a concealed location, long range).

-- Steve Leo (steve@steveleo.com), October 12, 2003

Answers

Sniper - It's a British term (for those of you whom have never shot snipe in the UK, they are uncanny little buggers who fly an undulating, weaving pattern at remarkable speed)These shore birds are often found inland and prefer a mix of woodland, pastures and water. Therefore, in the days of old, anyone who managed to bring one down was considered somewhat of a marksman - sniper if you will. I say, jefferies is a bit of a sniper old chap. Watch him.

-- James Blobson (uncleblob@yahoo.com), November 17, 2003.