| 释义 |
sniper|ˈsnaɪpə(r)|
[f. snipe v.]
1. One who snipes, or shoots from concealment, etc.; a sharp-shooter.
1824E. India Mil. Cal. II. 541 Several sepoys were killed and wounded by the enemy's snipers. 1897Daily News 30 July 5/2 It is impossible to see the snipers, who generally stalk the sentries from behind stones. 1900Daily Telegr. 27 Feb. 9/3 The artillery keep the Boer snipers down.
2. A snipe-shooter.
1840E. Napier Scenes & Sp. Foreign Lands II. v. 140 With his brandy flask by his side, and his well filled bag, the sniper still wanders through his old haunts.
3. U.S. A prospector for gold or the like.
1902U.S. Geol. Surv., Prof. Paper 10, 51 Some unsystematic work [searching for gold] was done during the fall of 1901 by snipers, usually working with rockers.
4. Logging. One who cuts a snipe on a log.
1905Terms Forestry & Logging (U.S. Dept. Agric. Bureau Forestry) 48 Sniper, one who noses logs before they are skidded. 1906Log of ‘Columbia’ June 8/1 ‘He ought to be chased out of the woods,’ said Jim, the sniper. 1914Chambers's Jrnl. 3 Oct. 696/1 Summoning the sniper for an occasional undersnipe. 1956R. W. Andrews Glory Days of Logging 14 These were..snipers who shaped the butt ends, so they [sc. logs] wouldn't hang up on the skids.
5. Austral. (See quot. 1945.)
1945Baker Austral. Lang. xiv. 248 A waterfront term of fairly recent origin is sniper, a non-union labourer. 1955J. Morrison Black Cargo 14 It will need only one shout of ‘Sniper!’ and Lamond will be lucky to get out without being knocked down. 1957T. Nelson Hungry Mile 72 The W.W.F. had preference of work, wharf by wharf. The outsiders (snipers) would stand back at the gate until the W.W.F. men were all used. |
