Where did the idiom kill two birds with one stone come from?

The idiom "kill two birds with one stone" likely originates from hunting practices, where a single stone could be thrown to strike and kill two birds simultaneously. It emphasizes efficiency in achieving two goals with a single action. The phrase has been in use since at least the 17th century and reflects a common human desire to maximize effort and resources. Its exact origin isn't definitively traced, but it has become a widely recognized metaphor for achieving multiple outcomes with minimal effort.