snag

n. in firefighting, a standing dead or burned tree. Subjects: English, Firefighting

Etymological Note: This is directly related to two older senses: ‘a branch stump on a trunk’ and ‘a dead tree or branch, in the bottom of a body of water, that interferes with navigation or recreation.’

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Citations: 1987 Seattle Times (Wash.) (May 17) “Forest-Fire Death Spurs State Review” (in Spokane) p. B5: Cash L. Hopkins, 25, an inmate from the Indian Ridge Corrections Center in Snohomish County, was killed Aug. 18 at the Ace Creek fire when a burning snag fell on him. 2000 Portland Oregonian (Aug. 18) “Forest Fire Fighters” p. A2: Marty Vanausdol cuts down a burned tree—a snag in fire crew parlance—to clear a safe path along a fire line in West Yellowstone, Mont. 2001 AP (Sept. 3) “Firefighter killed by fallen snag while fighting fire in Bitterroot” (in Hamilton, Mont.): A Bitterroot National Forest firefighter was fatally injured Monday morning after he was struck by a falling snag while battling a small fire near the Lost Trail Pass ski area. 2001 Jeff Barnard @ Grants Pass, Ore. Los Angeles Times (Dec. 9) “For Firefighters, the Job Comes Down to Playing Percentages” p. B10: A bolt of lighting had struck a 70-foot-tall snag—a standing dead tree—in the Tin Cup Creek drainage of the Kalmiopsis Wilderness early that morning, and was burning in what looked like knee-high brush. 2004 Eric Bailey @ Sacramento, Calif. Los Angeles Times (Oct. 5) “Firefighter Crushed to Death as Part of Tree Topples”: The burn had consumed four acres when Holmes and a few other team members approached a tree known in forestry parlance as a “snag”—dead or dying timber that poses a threat of falling.

Posted 6 Oct 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend