sapper

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a military engineer trained to build or destroy fortifications, bridges, roads, and similar works

   A sapper inspected the damaged bridge before the convoy attempted to cross.

2. 2
   noun

   a military specialist who detects, clears, or lays mines and explosives

   The sapper carefully cleared a path through the minefield.

Borrowed from French sapeur, from saper, 'to undermine.' Early sappers dug saps, or covered trenches, toward enemy defenses; the role broadened into modern combat engineering and demolitions work.

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