do snipers snipe people or do they shoot people? is the correct terminology “he just sniped that man”? or what? thank you!!
Either is correct, although “snipe” is rarely used. Most people say “shoot”.
A gunner does not gun,
A rifleman does not rifle.
but do not be dismayed,
It’s only but a trifle.
“Sniping” is what many of us at the SDMB do. Fortunately, we rarely shoot other posters. :eek:
The word “sniper” got its meaning from a small bird: the Snipe. To shoot one involved great accuracy and skill. So to use the word “snipe” as a verb would be incorrect.
If one wanted to be a sniper, would you just say that when you enlisted?
Dictionary.com disagrees with you:
[quote]
intr.v. sniped, snip·ing, snipes
- To shoot at individuals from a concealed place.
- To shoot snipe.
- To make malicious, underhand remarks or attacks[/quote
IIRC its something you can apply for if you score over a certain amount on your rifle qualification. I have a co-worker who was a millitary sniper. From his description its definitely not for everyone. The discipline, patience, and skills needed are a kinda rare combination.
I’ve always been impressed by military snipers. I watched a program on History Channel about the training… intense… they will lay there for hours waiting for a 1 second window of opportunity to make a shot on a target… also I never realised how much training goes into camoflage.
There’s a little more to it than just scoring expert on your basic training rifle range and telling your drill sergeant that, yeah, sniping sounds cool. Here’s a link with some info on how to become an Army sniper. Hope this is helpful to those who were interested.
I have to tear out the door to my stupid retail hell job, so I’ll post this without much comment. It’s fairly long, but read the whole thing anyway. The last bit is worth it.
The only comment I will make is that I know I could never make a good sniper. I lack both the mentioned physical flexibility and the mental ability to take another life, when I personally am in no danger. I would not be able to pull the trigger.
SniperCountry.com is a good website for those interested in snipers and sniping - check it out.
-Ben
For more info read up on Carlos Hathcock.
He knew a thing or two about sniping…
Meanwhile, back to the OP…
Yes it’s perfectly acceptable to use “snipe” as a verb, or “sniped” as the past tense.
Yes, but according to dictionary.com, it’s only an intransitive verb. So “he just sniped that man” would be incorrect.
Isn’t the Snipe a purely fictional bird at the center of a popular practical joke?
It is a popular practical joke in areas where snipe aren’t found, but it is* a real bird, too. It’s erratic flying makes it extremely difficult to shoot. Here’s a nice articleon the subject of both the joke and the real thing.