English

Noun

sniper ‎(plural snipers)

1. A person using long-range small arms for precise attacks from a concealed position.
2. Any attacker using a non-contact weapon against a specific target from a concealed position.
3. One who shoots from a concealed position.
   • 1874, Richard John Batt, The Maryland Continentals, 1780-1781:

     The British, having cleared the open field, now faced the problem of advancing through the trees into the sniper fire of several hundred Virginia militia.

4. One who criticizes.
   • c. 1934, The Living Age, volume 351, page 30:

     No winnable seat has been found for Mr. H. L. Nathan, a powerful recruit from the Liberal ranks, and poor Mr. Wedgwood Benn, an invaluable sniper for a party in Opposition, has been out of Parliament now since 1931.

Translations

See also

• marksman
• sharpshooter
• sniper's hide

Anagrams

• repins, ripens, serpin

French

Etymology

From English

Noun

sniper m ‎(plural snipers)

1. sniper (person, weapon)

Portuguese

Noun

sniper m f (plural snipers)

1. (military) sniper (person using long-range small arms for precise attacks from a concealed position)

Synonyms

• franco-atirador