Etymology dictionary

smoke-house (n.) — snips (n.)

smoke-house (n.)

also smokehouse, 1746, "building in which meats or fish are cured by smoking;" see smoke (v.) + house (n.).

smokey (adj.)

variant of smoky. As a noun, sometimes short for Smokey Bear.

smokeless (adj.)

"emitting or causing little smoke," 1580s, from smoke (n.1) + -less. Related: Smokelessly; smokelessness.

1590s, "one who cures meat," agent noun from smoke (v.). The meaning "one who smokes tobacco" (later also opium, etc.) is from 1610s. The railway meaning "smoking car" is from 1875 (smoking car is by 1846), American English. Smoker's cough is attested from 1898.

smoke-screen (n.)

also smokescreen, 1915, in reference to a deliberate use of smoke as a form of military camouflage, from smoke (n.1) + screen (n.). It is attested by 1926 in the figurative or extended sense of "something meant to conceal or mislead." The association of smoke with deception and deliberate obscurity dates to at least 1560s.

smokestack (n.)

also smoke-stack, "pipe of sheet-iron or other material through which smoke and gases are discharged into open air," 1833, from smoke (n.1) + stack (n.). Smoke-pipe in the same sense is by 1853.

Smokey Bear (n.)

"state policeman," 1974, from truckers' slang, in reference to the wide-brim style of hat worn by state troopers (the hats so called by 1969). Ultimately the reference is to the popular illustrated character of that name, a bear dressed in forest ranger gear (including a hat like those later worn by state troopers). He was introduced in 1944 by the U.S. Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council in a campaign to lower the number of forest fires in the West.

smoky (adj.)

also smoky, c. 1300, smoki, "emitting smoke," especially in a troublesome way; "full of smoke," from smoke (n.) + -y (2). Of atmosphere, etc., "having the appearance or nature of smoke," late 14c. Of flavors, from 1540s; of colors, from 1550s; of voices, by 1966. Related: Smokiness. Smoky eye as an eyeshadow color technique is by 1974. Smokish "resembling smoke," is from late 15c.

smolder (v.)

c. 1300 (implied in smoldering), transitive, "smother, suffocate," related to Middle Dutch smolen, Low German smelen, Flemish smoel "hot," from Proto-Germanic *smel-, *smul-.

The intransitive meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is recorded by 1520s, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c. The figurative sense of "exist in a suppressed state; burn inwardly" is from 1810. Related: Smouldered; smolderingly. Middle English also had a noun smolder meaning "smoky vapor, a stifling smoke."

smooch (v.)

"to kiss," especially romantically or passionately, 1932, American English, an alteration of the dialectal verb smouch "to kiss" (1570s), which is possibly imitative of the sound of kissing (compare German dialectal schmutzen "to kiss"). An earlier alteration produced smudge (v.) "to kiss, caress" (1844). Related: Smooched; smoocher (1946); smooching. As a noun, "a kiss," by 1942.

smoochy (adj.)

"amorous, meant for kissing," 1947, from smooch (n.) + -y (2).

smooth (adj.)

"having a uniform surface, not rough," a Middle English form, from Old English smoð, a variant of smeðe "free from roughness, not harsh, polished; soft; suave; agreeable," which is of unknown origin and has no known cognates.

The usual form in early Middle English was smeeth, but after c. 1400 this was archaic or provincial, however it is preserved in places names, such as Smithfield, Smedley. For the variation, compare Middle English smeken "to smoke, give off smoke," alongside smoken (v.).

Of words, looks, "pleasant, polite, sincere" late 14c., but later "flattering, insinuating" (mid-15c.). The meaning "without shocks or jolts" is from 1756. The slang meaning "superior, classy, clever" is attested from 1893; the sense of "stylish" is from 1922.

Smooth-bore ("not rifled") in reference to guns is from 1812. Smooth talk (v.) is recorded from 1950. A 1599 dictionary has smoothboots "a flatterer, a faire spoken man, a cunning tongued fellow."

smoothness (n.)

late 14c., smothenesse, "evenness, state or character of having a uniform surface," from smooth (adj.) + -ness. Earlier was smethenesse, from Old English smeðness.

smooth (v.)

"make smooth," Middle English smothen, a form attested from late Old English (smoþ), from the source of smooth (adj.). From 14c., smooth replaced earlier smeeth, from Old English smeðan "to smooth, soften, polish; appease, soothe;" smeðian "smoothen, become smooth." Smeeth survived after Middle English only as an archaic or provincial word.

The meaning "make smooth" is c. 1200. The figurative sense of "make agreeable, soften" is by 1590s. Of a graph, etc., "modify values to remove irregularities," by 1889. Related: Smoothed; smoothing. Alternative verb smoothen is from 1630s; OED reports it "in frequent use c 1820-30, esp. by Landor."

smoothie (n.)

1928, "suave person, person of complete self-assurance and poise, especially in the company of the opposite sex," American English college slang, from smooth (adj.) + -ie. As a type of blender drink, by 1983. A Middle English smoothe (n.) meant "smoothness, level surface" (c. 1400).

smoothly (adv.)

late 14c., smotheli, "in a smooth manner, blandly," from smooth (adj.) + -ly (2). Earlier was smetheli (c. 1200). The meaning "without impediment or complications" is from 1660s.

s'mores

snack treat, 1937, the plural of a childish contraction of some more, as in "Gimme some more of those." S'more as a contraction of some more is recorded by 1887.

smorgasbord (n.)

1893, from Swedish smörgåsbord, literally "butter-goose table," from smörgås, "slice of bread and butter," compounded from smör "butter" (see smear (n.)) and gås, literally "goose" (and from the same Germanic root that yielded English goose (n.)).

The final element is bord "table," from Proto-Germanic *burdam "plank, board, table" (see board (n.1)). The figurative sense of "medley, miscellany" is recorded from 1948.

smote

past tense of smite (v.).

smother (v.)

c. 1400, a variant or contraction of smorther "suffocate with smoke" (c. 1200, implied in smorthering "producing noxious smoke"), from smorthre (n.) "dense, suffocating smoke, suffocating vapor" (late 12c.), which is from a suffixed form of the source of Middle English smoren (v.), Old English smorian "suffocate, choke, strangle, stifle." This is cognate with Middle Dutch smoren, German schmoren "stew, swelter;" the group is possibly connected to smolder.

The meaning "kill by suffocation in any manner, stifle the respiration of" is from 1540s; the sense of "extinguish or deaden a fire by covering it" is from 1590s. Hence the general and figurative sense of "stifle, repress," recorded from 1570s. The meaning "cover thickly (with some substance)" is from 1590s. To smother up "wrap up so as to seem or feel smothered" is from 1580s. Related: Smothered; smothering. Smotheration "act or state of being smothered" (1826) was a New England word.

smoulder (v.)

see smolder. Related: Smouldered; smouldering; smoulderingly.

smudge (v.)

early 15c., smogen "to soil, smear or stain with dirt or filth, blacken," a word of obscure origin. Compare smutch and its variant smouch, Middle English smod "filth, obscene behavior" (mid-13c., also a surname); Middle Dutch besmodden, smoddich, Middle Low German smudden.

The meaning "to rub out or in" is by 1865. Related: Smudged; smudging. The noun meaning "a dirty mark or stain, spot, smear" is attested by 1768, from the verb.

The smudge meaning "make a smoky fire" is by 1860, also of unknown origin, but perhaps related. According to OED now dialectal and North American. OED also gives it in an earlier, obsolete sense of "cure (herring, etc.) by smoking" (1590s).

The related noun smudge is attested by 1767 as "a suffocating smoke" (to repel mosquitoes, etc.); from 1806 as "heap of combustibles ignited and emitting dense smoke." Hence smudge-pot (1903). Smudge-stick as a Native American (Crow tribe) artifact is by 1908

smudgy (adj.)

1859, "dirty, stained, or blackened," from smudge (n.) + -y (2). The meaning "blurry, indistinct" is by 1865. Related: Smudginess.

smug (adj.)

1550s, "trim, neat, spruce, smart," possibly an alteration of Low German smuk "trim, neat," from Middle Low German smücken "to adorn" (earlier "to dress," which often is a secondary sense of words meaning "to creep or slip into"), from the same source as smock. Compare Middle High German gesmuc, German Schmuck "ornament," schmücken "to ornament, adorn," originally "to dress," from a secondary form of Middle High German smiegen. Also see schmuck.

The meaning "having a self-satisfied air" is from 1701, an extension of the sense of "smooth, sleek" (1580s), which was commonly used of attractive women and girls, or else "affectedly nice in dress, satisfied with one's appearance." As a verb, "to make spruce," often with up (adv.), it is attested by 1580s. Related: Smugly; smugness. As a noun, "self-satisfied person," by 1891.

smuggling (n.)

"the offense of importing and exporting secretly and contrary to law," 1728, verbal noun from smuggle (v.).

smuggle (v.)

"import or export secretly and contrary to law," 1680s, of Low German or Dutch origin (see smuggler). The figurative sense of "convey in a clandestine way" is by 1783. Related: Smuggled; smuggling.

smuggler (n.)

"one who imports and exports secretly and contrary to law," 1660s, from Low German smuggeln or Dutch smokkelen "to transport (goods) illegally," apparently a frequentative formation of a word meaning "to sneak" (from Proto-Germanic *smuganan; source also of Dutch smuigen "to eat secretly;" Swedish smyg "a lurking-hole," Danish smughandel "contraband trade," Norwegian smjuga, Old English smeogan "to creep"), perhaps literally "to slip (contraband through)," from Proto-Germanic *(s)muk- (see smock).

Smurf (n.)

by 1979 (when toys were launched for the English language market by the Wallace Berrie company). The comic characters by Belgian artist Peyo first appeared in 1958 as Les Schtroumpfs. The name, and the language of the Schtroumpfs, were said to have developed after Peyo momentarily forgot the word for "salt-shaker," and said schtroumpf (a nonsense word), and from there he and his friend began jokingly replacing words with schtroumpf. Most languages seem to invent their own words for the creatures of the comics, but the Dutch translation Smurf was carried on into English.

smush

1825 (n.), "mush," a variant of mush. As a verb, by 1980. Compare mash/smash.

smut (n.)

1660s, "black mark, stain," from verb smutten "debase, defile" (late 14c.), later specifically "stain or mark made with soot, etc." (1580s), cognate with Middle High German smotzen "make dirty," from West Germanic *smutt- (source also of Middle High German smuz "grease, dirt;" German Schmutz "dirt," schmutzen "to make dirty").

The meaning "indecent or obscene language" is attested from 1660s. As the name of a fungous disease of plants, also 1660s. The verb in the figurative sense of "tarnish, defile" is from c. 1600.

smutch (v.)

"blacken with soot or smoke," 1610s, a variant of smudge (v.). As a noun from 1520s, "black spot or stain." Related: Smutchy "marked by or as if by smutch" (1570s).

smutty (adj.)

1590s, of plants, grain, etc., "affected with mildew;" in general, "dirty, blackened," 1640s; from 1660s as "indecent, obscene;" from smut + -y (2). Smutchy "marked by or as if by smutch" is from 1570s. Related: Smuttily; smuttiness. Smutty-nosed in ornithology means "having black nostrils."

*sna-

*snā-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to swim," with extended form *(s)nāu- "to swim, flow; to let flow," hence "to suckle."

It forms all or part of: naiad; natant; natation; natatorial; natatorium; nekton; nourish; nurse; nursery; nurture; nutrient; nutriment; nutrition; nutritious; nutritive; supernatant.

It is the hypothetical source of/evidence for its existence is provided by: Sanskrit snati "bathes," snauti "she drips, gives milk;" Avestan snayeite "washes, cleans;" Armenian nay "wet, liquid;" Greek notios "wet, damp," Greek nan "I flow," nekhein "to swim;" Latin nare "to swim," natator "swimmer;" Middle Irish snaim "I swim," snam "a swimming."

snack (v.)

c. 1300, snak, "to bite or snap" (of a dog), perhaps from a Northern variant of snatch (v.) influenced by Scandinavian words (such as Old Norse snakka); or perhaps also from or influenced by continental Germanic words such as Middle Dutch snakken, Flemish snacken "to snatch, snap; chatter," which Watkins traces to a hypothetical Germanic imitative root forming words having to do with the nose (see snout).

The meaning "have a mere bite or morsel, eat a light meal" is attested by 1807, from the sense development in the noun. Related: Snacked; snacking.

snack (n.)

c. 1400, snak, "a snatch or snap" (especially that of a dog), from snack (v.). Later "a snappish remark" (1550s); "a share, portion, part" (1680s; hence old expressions such as go snacks "share, divide; have a share in").

The meaning "a bite or morsel to eat hastily" is attested from 1757. Snack bar "counter from which snacks are served" is attested from 1923. The unetymological commercial plural snax is attested from 1942 in the vending machine trade.

snaffle (n.)

simple bridle-bit, 1530s, a word of uncertain origin, likely from or related to Dutch snavel "beak, bill; nose or snout of a beast;" compare German Schnabel "beak, face," Old English nebb, Old Norse neff "beak, nose" (see neb). Often figurative, in reference to loose restraint, etc. As a verb by 1550s. Related: Snaffled; snaffling.

snafu (n.)

"a confusion, a mix-up," especially a big and complicated one, 1943, World War II U.S. military slang, from the acronym (attested as an expression by 1941) for situation normal, all fucked up, "an expression conveying the common soldier's laconic acceptance of the disorder of war and the ineptitude of his superiors" ["Oxford English Dictionary"]. As an adjective from 1942. In public explanations the word typically was euphemised to fouled.

snag (n.)

1570s, "stump of a tree, branch," a word of Scandinavian origin; compare Old Norse snagi "clothes peg," snaga "a kind of ax," snag-hyrndr "with sharp points" ("snag-cornered"). The connecting notion seems to be "sharp protuberance, projecting point."

The general meaning, in reference to any sharp or jagged projection is recorded from 1580s; especially "tree or part of a tree in water and partly near the surface, so as to be dangerous to navigation" (1807). The figurative meaning "hidden obstacle, unexpected impediment" is from 1829.

snag (v.)

"catch or be caught on an impediment" (intransitive), 1807, from snag (n.). Originally in American English, and often in reference to steamboats caught on branches and stumps lodged in riverbeds. Figurative use is by 1833. Of fabric, "to catch and tear on a projection," by 1854. The transitive meaning "catch, steal, pick up" is U.S. colloquial, attested from 1895. Related: Snagged; snagging.

snaggle-toothed (adj.)

"having crooked, projecting teeth," 1580s, from snag (n.) in some sense (snag-tooth "irregular or projecting tooth" is attested from 1560s), perhaps a frequentative formation. With toothed "having teeth" (of a certain kind), for which see tooth (n.). The alternative snaggle-tooth (adj.) is from 1650s; snaggle-tooth (n.) "irregular or projecting tooth, tooth growing out irregularly from others" is from 1820.

snail (n.)

common name for a small gastropod on land or in fresh water, Middle English snail, from Old English snægl, from Proto-Germanic *snagila (source also of Old Saxon snegil, Old Norse snigill, Danish snegl, Swedish snigel, Middle High German snegel, dialectal German Schnegel, Old High German snecko, German Schnecke "snail").

This is reconstructed to be from *snog-, a variant of PIE root *sneg- "to crawl, creep; creeping thing" (see snake (n.)). The word essentially is a diminutive form of Old English snaca "snake," etymologically, "creeping thing."

Snail also formerly was used of slugs. Symbolic of slowness at least since c. 1000; snail's pace "very slow pace" is attested from c. 1400. Related: Snaily; snailish; snailing.

snailery (n.)

"place for breeding (edible) snails," 1725, from snail (n.) + -ery.

snail-shell (n.)

"the shell of a snail," 1520s, from snail (n.) + shell (n.).

snake (n.)

Middle English snake, "a long, limbless reptile," from Old English snaca, from Proto-Germanic *snakon (source also of Old Norse snakr "snake," Swedish snok, German Schnake "ring snake"), from PIE root *sneg- "to crawl, creeping thing" (source also of Old Irish snaighim "to creep," Lithuanian snakė "snail," Old High German snahhan "to creep"). In Modern English, gradually replacing serpent in popular use.

Traditionally applied to the British serpent, as distinguished from the venomous adder. Applied from 17c. to various snake-like devices and appliances. Snakes! as an exclamation is from 1839.

The meaning "treacherous person" is attested by 1580s (it was used of Satan in early 15c., and serpent and adder are older in this sense) Compare Old Church Slavonic gadu "reptile," gadinu "foul, hateful." The snake's reputation was not helped by the Genesis story, but the notion is older. The phrase snake in the grass "underhand, plotting, deceitful person" translates Virgil's Latet anguis in herba [Ecl. III:93].

Snake eyes in crap-shooting, "a throw of two ones" (the lowest possible roll), is from 1919, hence the association with bad luck. This might have influenced snake-bitten, snake-bit "unlucky," attested in sports slang by 1957, which also might be from a literal sense (attested by 1807), perhaps suggesting one doomed by a venomous bite.

The board game of Snakes and Ladders is attested from 1907. Snake charmer is from 1813. Snake pit is from 1883, as a supposed primitive test of truth or courage; the figurative sense is from 1941. Snake dance is by 1772 in reference to a Hopi ceremony; by 1911 as a party dance.

snake (v.)

1650s, transitive, "twist or wind into the form of a snake," originally of hair, from snake (n.). The intransitive sense of "move like a snake" is attested from 1848; that of "wind or twist like a snake" (of roads, etc.) is from 1875. Related: Snaked; snaking.

snakehead (n.)

also snake-head, by 1837 as a type of North American plant used medicinally (also turtlehead; the form snake's head is attested from 1735); by 1883 as a type of carnivorous Southeast Asian freshwater fish, from snake (n.) + head (n.). Also in 19c. American English a name for railway rails that work lose and jut up, impaling or derailing passing cars (1838).

snake oil (n.)

"phony cure, quack remedy," 1927, American English, from the use of oil derived from the fat of snakes (especially the rattlesnake) as a folk remedy in the rural regions of the U.S. Snake oil in this sense is attested by 1858: it was said to heal rheumatism and gout in Georgia, but was touted as a cure for deafness in rural Pennsylvania.

Professional pharmacy journals began to condemn it early 20c., not because it was quackery but because products sold under the name had no real snake oil in them.

The belief in the healing power of snake is ancient. Compare Middle English triacle, tiriacle, "snake flesh used as an antidote against snake-bites," also see adder.

snake-stone (n.)

also snakestone, "fossil ammonite," 1660s, from snake (n.) + stone (n.). So-called from the old popular notion that they were snakes petrified while coiled.

snaky (adj.)

1560s, "full of snakes" (originally of the hair of the Furies in classical mythology), from snake (n.) + -y (2). By 1580s as "of or resembling a snake." In Australia and New Zealand slang, "angry, annoyed" (1919). Snakish "of or pertaining to serpents" is from 1530s. The present-participle adjective snaking "winding, sinuous" is from 1590s.

snap (n.)

1550s, perhaps late 15c., "a quick, sudden bite or cut; an eager seizing," from snap (v.), or, if the earlier date, a noun from Dutch or Low German snappen "to snap," which are probably related to Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snavel "bill, beak," which Watkins traced to a hypothetical Germanic root *snu- forming words having to do with the nose, imitative of a sudden drawing of breath (see snout).

The sense of "quick movement" is recorded by 1630s; that of "something easily done" is 1877. The meaning "crispness, pithiness" is from 1865, American English (Scottish English had it by 1790 in an adjectival sense of "sharp, smart"). The meaning "brief or sudden spell" of weather (usually cold) is from 1740. The meaning "catch or fastener (of a purse, etc.) that closes with a snapping sound" is from 1815.

The card game name is attested from 1881, from a call used in the game. Meaning "a photographic snap-shot" is from 1894. U.S. football sense is from 1912, earlier it was snap-back (1880), which also was the name for the offensive center position. Slang snaps "handcuffs" is by 1895. Snap, Crackle and Pop, cartoon characters associated with Kellogg breakfast cereal Rice Krispies, are from 1940.

As an adjective (1790) commonly used to indicate instantaneous action, as in snap judgment (1841).

snap (v.)

1520s, of animals, "make a quick bite" (intransitive), from or cognate with Dutch or Low German snappen "to snap," which could be related to Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snavel "bill, beak," which Watkins traces to a hypothetical Germanic root *snu- forming words having to do with the nose, imitative of a sudden drawing of breath (see snout). Ultimately imitative. Compare earlier gnappen "snap with the teeth" (c. 1300).

The intransitive meaning "break suddenly or sharply" is from c. 1600. The transitive sense of "take or catch unexpectedly with a bite" is from 1560s; that of "shut with a sharp sound" is from 1570s.

The meaning "come or move into place with a snap" is attested from 1793. In a broader sense of "do (something) hastily or eagerly" it is attested by 1798. The meaning "take an instant photograph" is from 1890. The U.S. football sense is by 1887 (see the noun).

To snap at "speak sharply or harshly to" is from 1570s. To snap in the mental sense of "suddenly lose control, composure, or sanity" is from 1970s. Related: Snapped; snapping.

In reference to the noise made with the fingers and palm, from 1670s (snap with one's fingers). The phrase snap out of it "change one's behavior suddenly" is recorded by 1907. The snapping turtle, large, ferocious freshwater turtle of the U.S., is so called by 1784, for its powerful bite. Snap-brim (adj.) in reference to a type of hat is from 1928.

snapdragon (n.)

popular name of a common flowering garden plant, 1570s, from snap (n.) + dragon. So called from fancied resemblance of antirrhinum flowers to a dragon's mouth. As the name of a Christmas game of plucking raisins from burning brandy and eating them alight, from 1704.

snape (v.)

also sneap, "to be hard upon, rebuke, revile, snub," early 14c., snaipen, from Old Norse sneypa "to outrage, dishonor, disgrace," which is probably related to similar-sounding words meaning "cut" (compare snip (v.)).

The verb meaning "bevel the end (of a timber) to fit an inclined surface" is of uncertain origin or connection. Snaiping (n.) "rebuking, reproaching, reviling" is attested from early 14c. Shakespeare has sneaped birds, annoyed by a late frost ("Rape of Lucrere").

snapper (n.)

"one who or that which snaps," 1570s, agent noun from snap (v.). Applied to various fishes since 1690s. Slang meaning "vagina" is by 2000. As a short form of snapping turtle (1784) it is recorded from 1872. Snappers "teeth" is attested from 1924.

snappy (adj.)

1825, "quick, energetic," from snap (n.) in the "crispness, pithiness" sense + -y (2). The meaning "clever, smart" is from 1871; in reference to dress, etc., "neat and stylishly elegant," by 1881. Related: Snappily; snappiness. The command make it snappy "make haste" is attested from 1910.

snappish (adj.)

1540s, of persons, "peevish, having a short temper," from snap (v.) + -ish. Of a dog or other animal, "ready or apt to bite," from c. 1700. Related: Snappishly; snappishness.

snapshot (n.)

also snap-shot, 1808, in hunting, "a quick shot with a gun, without aim, at a fast-moving target," from snap + shot (n.). The sense of "photograph shot with a hand-held camera" is attested from 1890. Figuratively, of something captured at a moment in time, from 1897. As a verb by 1894.

snare (v.)

late 14c., snaren, "ensnare, catch or take (small animals, birds, etc.)," also figurative, from snare (n.1). Related: Snared; snaring.

snare (n.1)

"noose for catching animals," late Old English snearu, and also from a Scandinavian source such as Old Norse snara "noose, snare," related to soenri "twisted rope," from Proto-Germanic *snarkho (source also of Middle Dutch snare, Dutch snaar, Old High German snare, German Schnur "noose, cord," Old English snear "a string, cord"). Figuratively from c. 1300, "anything by which one is entangled or entrapped."

snare (n.2)

"string stretched across the lower head of a drum," so as to produce a rattling vibration, 1680s, probably [OED] from Dutch snaar "string," from same source as snare (n.1). From 1938 as a shortening of snare-drum (which is attested by 1873).

snarf (v.)

"to take, grab," by 1989, probably imitative (compare scarf (v.)). Related: Snarfed; snarfing.

snark (n.)

1876 as the name of an imaginary animal, coined by "Lewis Carroll" in "The Hunting of the Snark." In 1950s, it was the name given to a type of U.S. cruise missile, and in 1980s to a type of sailboat. The meaning "caustic, opinionated, and critical rhetoric" is by c. 2002, probably from snarky and not directly related, if at all, to Carroll's use of snark.

snarky (adj.)

"irritable, short-tempered," 1906, from snark (v.) "to find fault with, nag" (1882), literally "to snort" (1866), which is from an imitative source. Compare Low German snarken, North Frisian snarke, Swedish snarka; also compare snarl (v.2) and sneer (v.). Also compare narky "bad-tempered, sarcastic" (1895), British slang from earlier nark "annoying, quarrelsome, or unpleasant person" (1846), from nark (q.v.).

It seems to have emerged anew as a vogue word c. 1997 to indicate " said or written in a hostile, knowing, bitter tone of contempt." The back-formation snark (n.) "caustic, opinionated, and critical rhetoric" is by c. 2002. Related: Snarkily; snarkiness.

snarl (v.1)

late 14c., snarlen, "tangle, catch in a snare or noose" (transitive; literal and figurative), from the obsolete noun snarl "a snare, a noose" (late 14c.), which is probably a diminutive of snare (n.1). The intransitive sense of "become twisted or entangled" is from c. 1600. Related: Snarled; snarling.

snarl (n.2)

"a sharp growl accompanied by a display of the teeth," 1610s, from snarl (v.2).

snarl (v.2)

"growl and bare the teeth," as an angry dog or wolf, 1580s, perhaps from Dutch or Low German snarren "to rattle," which are probably of imitative origin (compare German schnarren "to rattle," schnurren "to hum, buzz"). The meaning "speak in a harsh, quarrelsome manner" is recorded by 1690s. Related: Snarled; snarling.

snarl (n.1)

late 14c., "a snare, noose, trap," perhaps a diminutive of snare (n.1) with -el (2). The meaning "a tangle, a knot" in hair, thread, etc. is attested from c. 1600. That of "traffic jam" is from 1933.

snarly (n.)

1640s, "full of tangles," from snarl (n.1) + -y (2). By 1798 as "irritable, cross."

snatch (v.)

early 13c., snacchen, of a dog, "make a sudden snap or bite" (at something), a word of uncertain origin; perhaps from an unrecorded Old English *snæccan or Middle Dutch snacken "to snatch, chatter." Compare snack (n.). The meaning "lay hold of suddenly, seize or take eagerly" is from early 14c.; especially "take from someone's hands" (1580s). Related: Snatched; snatching.

snatch (n.)

c. 1300, snacche, "a trap, snare," a sense now obsolete, from snatch (v.). From c. 1400 as "a bite." The meaning "a sudden grab" is from 1570s, also "a short fit of vigorous action;" hence the sense in weight-lifting (1928). The sense of "a short space of time" is from 1560s; that of "a small amount" is from 1590s.

The vulgar slang sense of "vulva" is recorded by 1903, perhaps 1864; a much older venereal sense was "sexual intercourse quickly performed" (1580s).

snatcher (n.)

"one who takes suddenly or guiltily," 1570s, agent noun from snatch (v.).

snazzy (adj.)

"stylish, flashy," 1932, U.S. colloquial, perhaps a blend of snappy and jazzy.

SNCC

1960, initialism (acronym) from Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, which was organized in 1960.

SNCF

French national railway, 1949, initialism (acronym) for Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer.

sneak (n.)

"a sneaking person; person of selfish and cowardly temper and conduct," 1640s, from sneak (v.). By 1700 as "act or practice of sneaking."

sneak (v.)

1550s (implied in sneakish), "creep or steal about privately; move or go in a stealthy, slinking way" (intransitive); perhaps from some dialectal survival of Middle English sniken "to creep, crawl" (c. 1200), which is from Old English snican "to sneak along, creep, crawl," from Proto-Germanic *sneikanan, which is related to the root of snail and snake (n.).

The transitive sense of "insert stealthily" is by 1640s. That of "partake of or get surreptitiously" is from 1883. Related: Sneaking. To sneak up on someone or something is by 1869.

As an adjective, in reference to feelings, suspicions, etc., "not openly vowed, undemonstrative," from 1748. Sneak-thief, one who enters through unsecured doors and windows to steal, is recorded by 1859; the movies sneak-preview of a film before official release is from 1938.

sneaker (n.)

1590s, "a sneak, one who sneaks," agent noun from sneak (v.). The meaning "rubber-soled shoe" is attested by 1895, American English; so called because the shoe was noiseless. Earlier sneak (1862) was used in the same sense:

Related: Sneakers. See also Plimsoll; another early name for them was tackies (1902), from tacky (adj.1).

sneaky (adj.)

"rather sneaking, mean and stealthy," 1833, from sneak (v.) + -y (2). Sneakish is from 1864. Related: Sneakily; sneakiness. Sneaky Pete "cheap liquor" is from 1949.

sneer (v.)

1550s, "to snort" (intransitive, of horses), perhaps from North Frisian sneere "to scorn," related to Old English fnæran "snort, gnash one's teeth," and of imitative origin (compare Danish snærre "grin like a dog," Middle Dutch, Middle High German snarren "to rattle").

The meaning "grin or smile contemptuously" is from 1670s; that of "speak derisively, insinuate contempt in words" is by 1707; the sense of "to curl the upper lip in scorn" is attested from 1775. Related: Sneered; sneering. Sneer word is in William Safire's columns from 1980 (he lists so-called, self-proclaimed, would-be, and purported).

sneer (n.)

"derisive or contemptuous grin," also "verbal expression of contempt," 1707, from sneer (v.).

sneeze (v.)

late 15c., snesen, from or replacing fnesen, which is Old English fneosan "to snort, sneeze," from Proto-Germanic *fneusanan. Compare: Middle Dutch fniesen, Dutch fniezen "to sneeze;" Old Norse fnysa "to snort;" Old Norse hnjosa, Swedish nysa "to sneeze;" Old High German niosan, German niesen "to sneeze," all from Proto-Germanic base *fneu-s- "sneeze," which is of imitative origin, as is PIE *pneu- "to breathe" (source of Greek pnein "to breathe").

Other imitative words for it, perhaps in various ways shaped by one another, include Latin sternuere (source of Italian starnutare, French éternuer, Spanish estornudar), Breton strevia, Sanskrit ksu-, Lithuanian čiaudėti, Polish kichać, Russian čichat'.

The Middle English shift to sn- might be due to a misreading of the uncommon digraph fn- (represented in only eight words in the Clark Hall dictionary, mostly words having to do with breathing), or from Norse influence. But OED suggests it wasn't a direct evolution, and that Middle English fnese had been reduced to simple nese by early 15c., and sneeze is a "strengthened form" of this, "assisted by its phonetic appropriateness." Related: Sneezed; sneezer; sneezing.

To sneeze at "show contempt for, regard as of little value" (usually with negative) is attested from 1806. To teach (one) how the cat sneezes apparently was an old phrase for "to dominate, bully."

sneeze (n.)

"act of sneezing, sound made by sneezing," 1640s, from sneeze (v.).

sneezeweed (n.)

also sneeze-weed, common North American plant, by 1807, so called because its powdered leaves were used medicinally to provoke sneezing; see sneeze (v.) + weed (n.). Sneezewort (1590s) is a different plant.

sneezy (adj.)

"inclined to sneeze," 1800, from sneeze (n.) + -y (2).

snell (adj.)

Old English snel "quick, active, rapid in movement or motion," cognate with Old Saxon, Dutch, Old High German snel, German schnell "swift, quick," Old Danish snel "swift, fleet," Old Norse snjallr "eloquent, able, bold." Archaic after Middle English, it survived as a surname and in Scottish and northern English (Burns and Scott used it). Italian snello is from Germanic.

snert (n.)

also snirt, "repressed laugh," 1781, from the verb (1724), a Northern and Scottish word of imitative origin. Also snirtle (Burns).

snick (n.1)

"a small cut," 1775, from snick (v.).

snick (v.)

"to cut, clip, snip," 1700, colloquial, a back-formation from snickersnee. or else from a Scottish survival of a word from Old Norse snikka.

Snick (n.2)

1962, American English, from common pronunciation of SNCC, initialism (acronym) for "Student Non-violent Co-ordinating Committee," the Black civil rights organization.

snicker (v.)

"laugh in a half-suppressed way," 1690s, possibly of imitative origin; it is similar to Dutch snikken "to gasp, sob;" also compare the horse's nicker. Related: Snickered; snickering.

snicker (n.)

"a smothered laugh," 1835, from snicker (v.). Earlier form was snigger (1823).

snickersnee (n.)

1690s, "a fight with knives," from snick-or-snee (1610s) "to thrust and cut in knife-fighting," also snick-a-snee, snick-and-snee, which is suspected to be Englished from a Dutch phrase (early English uses typically are in a Dutch context). Compare Dutch steken "to thrust, stick" (see stick (v.)) + snee "a cut, slice" (compare German Schneide "edge"), which is related to snijden "to cut" (compare German schneiden; see schnitzel). Modern English also borrowed snee as "a large knife."

snide (adj.)

1859, thieves' slang, "counterfeit, sham, bad, spurious," a word of unknown origin. Century Dictionary suggests it is a dialectal variant of snithe, itself a dialectal adjective meaning "sharp, cutting," used of the wind, from the Middle English verb snithen "to cut," from Old English snithan, which is cognate with German schneiden.

In earliest use it seems to have been most commonly applied to counterfeit coin. Farmer and Henley ("Slang and Its Analogues," 1903) has it as "bad, wretched, contemptible, or (army) dirty." Of persons, "characterized by low cunning and sharp practice," by 1874 (Hotten). Sense of "sneering" is attested by 1928, perhaps via the earlier noun sense of "hypocrisy, malicious gossip" (1902). Related: Snidely; snideness.

sniff (v.)

mid-14c., sniffen, intransitive, "draw air through the nose in short breaths," of imitative origin; possibly related to snyvelen (see snivel) or similar Scandinavian words. As an expression of scorn or contempt from 1729. The transitive sense of "draw in with the nose, perceive by smell" is from 1796. In reference to cocaine from 1925. Related: Sniffed; sniffing.

sniff (n.)

1767, "the act of a short inhaling through the nose," from sniff (v.); the scornful sense is from 1859. The meaning "perception of smell obtained by inhaling" is by 1844.

sniffer (n.)

"the nose," 1858, slang agent noun from sniff (v.).

sniffle (v.)

"snuffle slightly," 1819, frequentative form of sniff (v.). Related: Sniffled; sniffling.

As a noun, "an act of sniffling," by 1880; the sniffles "runny nose, head cold" is recorded from 1825. Sniffly (1897) tends to refer to physical symptoms, "characterized by sniffling;" while sniffy (1858) means "inclined to be scornful, disdainful and disagreeable." Snuffy "annoyed" is from 1670s; also compare huffy, miffy.

snifter (n.)

1844, "a small drink of liquor, a 'nip,' " from a Scottish and northern English survival of an obsolete verb snifter "to sniffle," frequentative of snift "to sniff, snivel" (mid-14c., snifter), ultimately of imitative origin (compare sniff (v.)), but perhaps to English via a Scandinavian source (compare Old Danish snifte, Swedish snyfta).

The meaning "large bulbous stemmed glass for drinking brandy" is attested from 1937. The association of "drinking liquor" with words for "inhaling, snuffling" (such as snort (n.), snootful) is perhaps from snuff-taking and the nasal reaction to it. In Scottish and Northern England dialect snifter (n.) also had various senses, such as "a strong wind," "a bad head-cold," "snuff."

snigger (v.)

1706, variant form of snicker (v.). Related: Sniggered; sniggering. As a noun from 1823.

sniggler (n.)

1840, one who fishes (especially for eels) by putting bait into their lurking places, agent noun from sniggle (v.), which is attested in a sense related to this from 1660s (implied in sniggling). It is the verbal suffix -le in some sense + snig "an eel" (late 15c.), a word of obscure origin but perhaps related to snake (n.) and sneak (v.).

snips (n.)

"small, stout-handled shears for metal-working," 1846, from snip (v.).