History of "Spider Hole"

[RonButters at AOL.COM]

Maybe someone already mentioned this? There is an entry for SPIDER HOLES in A 
DICTIONARY OF SOLDIER TALK,   by Colonel John R. Elting, USA Ret. et al. 
(Scribner's, 1984). It says:

"(Modern) s. Small concealed firing positions from which snipes emerge to 
shoot at patrolling troops. Probably from the ingenious lair of the trapdoor 
spider, which darats from its hole to snatch unwayr prey."


In a message dated 12/14/03 5:03:50 PM, dave at WILTON.NET writes:


> >    "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
>