An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schnepfe

by Friedrich Kluge

Schnepfe, f., ‘snipe,’ from the equiv. MidHG. snëpfe, m., OHG. snëpfo, m., snëpfa, f.; comp. Du. snep, MidE. snîpe, E. snipe, from the root snī̆pp. Also AS. snîte, E. snite?. The HG. word passed as sgneppa into the Ital. dials. The origin of the cognates is obscure.