Saddam hiding in hidden "Spider Hole."

[Sam Clements]

Dave wins the prize.  From the Zanesville(OH) Signal, February 1, 1945; page
12, column 1:
      <<Suddenly heavy sniper fire burst out from well concealed spider
holes and Seavey's patrol flattened themselves on the ground.>>

    {This was a story about the 96th Infantry in the Philippings}

Sam Clements

----- Original Message -----
From: "Dave Wilton" <dave at wilton.net>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Sunday, December 14, 2003 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: Saddam hiding in hidden "Spider Hole."


> >    "Spider hole" is not in OED.   There are almost a thousand Google
hits,
> > and tons of hits today....Spiderman could not be reached for comment.
>
> It is in the SOED.
>
> I first heard the term when I was in the Army, mid-80s. I suspect, but
don't
> have the citations to prove it, that it dates to WWII. The use of
> spider-holes was a tactic used by Japanese snipers--but the term could
have
> been applied retroactively.
>
> Until now, I only new the term as a type of fighting position, dug to be
> used in an ambush. It will be interesting to see if this incident spawns a
> new sense meaning a hiding place, as opposed to a place from which to
spring
> an ambush.
>
> The metaphor is one of a spider that digs a hole and lies in wait for prey
> to come by as opposed to spinning a web.
>
> --Dave Wilton
>   dave at wilton.net
>