English snipe

Snipe Snipe, n. [OE. snipe; akin to D. snep, snip, LG. sneppe, snippe, G. schnepfe, Icel. sn[=i]pa (in comp.), Dan. sneppe, Sw. sn["a]ppa a sanpiper, and possibly to E. snap. See {Snap}, {Snaffle}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of limicoline game birds of the family {Scolopacid[ae]}, having a long, slender, nearly straight beak. [1913 Webster]

Note: The common, or whole, snipe ({Gallinago c[oe]lestis}) and the great, or double, snipe ({G. major}), are the most important European species. The Wilson's snipe ({G. delicata}) (sometimes erroneously called {English snipe}) and the gray snipe, or dowitcher ({Macrohamphus griseus}), are well-known American species. [1913 Webster]

2. A fool; a blockhead. [R.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Half snipe}, the dunlin; the jacksnipe.

{Jack snipe}. See {Jacksnipe}.

{Quail snipe}. See under {Quail}.

{Robin snipe}, the knot.

{Sea snipe}. See in the Vocabulary.

{Shore snipe}, any sandpiper.

{Snipe hawk}, the marsh harrier. [Prov. Eng.]

{Stone snipe}, the tattler.

{Summer snipe}, the dunlin; the green and the common European sandpipers.

{Winter snipe}. See {Rock snipe}, under {Rock}.

{Woodcock snipe}, the great snipe. [1913 Webster]