Quote:
Originally posted by 250:
he doesnt fit in to be a sniper. long range killer, or simply shooter.
|
I understand your strict interpretation, but people are using the term sniper in the generic sense, which is exactly how the term started.
Originally, a "sniper" was anyone who was a good shot. It started as a nickname for British soldiers who were especially good at shooting the snipe(sp?), a quick moving game bird. They where called snipers(the British are so original
). Snipers were considered great shots, and over the years the term developed into the title of today's military field sniper. At least that's what the History Channel said in it's episode on snipers last week. [img]smile.gif[/img]
This guy is a sniper in that sense. He's a very good shot. It's a commonly used and understood word, that describes this situation immediately to those hearing about it. It may not be correct in the strictest sense of today's military sniper, but that's not the common usage of the word.
I'm talking about the definition.
snipe
Function: intransitive verb
Inflected Form(s): sniped; snip·ing
Date: 1832
1 : to shoot at exposed individuals (as of an enemy's forces) from a usually concealed point of vantage
- snip·er noun
You're talking about a military/law enforcement job title. I do hope someone with that job gets to stop this idiots rampage!
[ 10-09-2002, 10:00 AM: Message edited by: Ronn_Bman ]