Gallinago gallinago otherwise known as the Snipe, is a wading bird with a very long narrow bill. Camouflage may enable the snipe to remain undetected by hunters in marshland. If the snipe flies, hunters have difficulty estimating the correct shot to take due to the bird’s erratic flight pattern.
The difficulties involved in hunting the snipe gave rise to the term “sniper,” being someone who went hunting for the snipe…and from there it transcended to referring to a skilled anti-personnel military sharpshooter.
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