Jacksnipes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of birds including snipe species; a traditional game involving small objects to be picked up; naval seamen, especially those performing menial tasks
2. Various snipe-like wading birds; a children's game requiring quick hand movements to gather scattered pieces; informal term for lower-ranked sailors with routine duties
3. Shorebirds related to snipes; a pastime where participants skillfully collect items from a surface; slang for enlisted naval personnel engaged in basic chores

Etymology: "Jacksnipes" is simply the plural of "jacksnipe," a small shorebird related to the snipe. The name combines "jack," a word English has long used to mean a small or diminutive thing, with "snipe," the wading bird whose name the jacksnipe shares. The smaller bird was named for its size relative to the larger snipe, so the compound describes a lesser version of a familiar creature.

Synonyms: woodcock, snipe, sandpiper, shorebird