cecchino
sniper
noun chehk-KEE-noh Rare
Origin: From the name Francesco (Cecchino is a diminutive) — jocular soldiers' slang
Also means
sharpshooter
Usage Note
Cecchino originally was a diminutive of Francesco used as ironic military slang; today it is the standard Italian word for a sniper or sharpshooter. The feminine cecchina exists but is very rare; in practice il cecchino is used generically. The plural cecchini is regular.
Examples
"Un cecchino appostato minacciava i soldati."
Natural Translation
A sniper in ambush threatened the soldiers.
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