| 释义 |
▪ I. snuff, n.1|snʌf|
Forms: 4–6 snoffe, 5 snof, 9 dial. snoff; 4–7 snuffe, 7 snuf; 6– snuff.
[Of obscure origin: G. schnuppe († snupe), which agrees in sense, does not correspond phonetically.]
I.
1. a. That portion of a wick, etc., which is partly consumed in the course of burning to give light, and in the case of candles requires to be removed at intervals; † a candle-end.
Also Mining, a smift (Gresley, 1883): cf. snoff.
1382Wyclif Exod. xxv. 38 Candelquenchers, and..where the snoffes ben quenchid. 1398Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xviii. xxxix. (MS. Bodl.), Ȝif a mare..smelleþ þe snoffe of a candel sheo casteþ here foole. c1440Promp. Parv. 462/1 Snuffe, of a candel, muco. 1530Palsgr. 272/1 Snoffe of a candell, mesche, limignon, lumignon. 1544T. Phaer Regim. Lyfe (1553) E iij, Ye must lay to y⊇ nose..assafetida, or the snuffes of candels. 1577–87Holinshed Chron. III. 1208/1 Through negligence of a maiden with a candell, the snuffe falling in an hundred pounds weight of gunpowder. c1645Howell Lett. (1655) IV. xxi. 58 In som this light goes out with an ill-favor'd stench; But others have a save-all to preserve it from making any snuff at all. a1687H. More Cont. Remark. Stories (1689) 406 Striking the Candle..and afterwards making three Scrapes on the Snuff to put it out. 1687Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, Snuff,..bout de Chandelle. 1705Addison Italy, Antiq. near Naples 230 A Torch, Snuff and all, goes out in a Moment when dipp'd into the Vapour. 1756Phil. Trans. LV. 185 Hence the suffocating nature of air impregnated with burnt grease, as from snuffs of candles, and the like. 1815J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 347 On letting it down again, it will be perfectly lighted from the spark of the snuff. 1843Keightley Notes Virg., Georg. i. 390 The thick snuff which gathers on the wick [of the lamp]. 1870E. Peacock Ralf Skirl. II. 161 A candle with a long snuff burnt on the table.
collect.a1400–50Bk. Curtasye 829 in Babees Bk. Of wax þese candels alle..; Þo snof of hom dose a-way With close sesours. a1631Donne Sat. ii. 78 As a thrifty wench..barrelling the droppings, and the snuffe, Of wasting candles.
Comb.1709in J. S. Moore Goods & Chattels of our Forefathers (1976) 196 Two brasse Snuffers and Snuff panns, one latten hoop for Cakes, a greater Chayr. 1733Lady G. Baillie Househ. Bk. (1911) 381, 2 Snuff pans. 1758Franklin Lett. Wks. 1887 III. 8 There are also snuffers, a snuffstand, and extinguisher, of steel. 1963Times 11 May 11/1 Candle-snuffers fitted with snuff pans were being used in Britain by the mid-fifteenth-century.
b. In comparisons, used to describe what is faint, feeble, or on the point of extinction.
1534More Comf. agst. Trib. ii. Wks. 1172/1, I can not licken my life more metely now than to the snuffe of a candle. 1589Pappe with Hatchet (1844) 36 A wit worn into the socket, twinkling and pinking like the snuffe of a candle. 1631Quarles Samson viii, The other are but blasts, That faintly blaze like Oyle-forsaken snuffes. 1654Warren Unbelievers 252 His Arguments should go out like a snuffe of a candle in the socket. 1730? Swift Clad all in Brown Wks. 1755 IV. i. 263 Thy soul, which through thy hide of buff, Scarce glimmers like a dying snuff. 1786F. Burney Diary 6 Oct., All the poor attendants..drop off, one after another, like so many snuffs of candles. 1869Trollope He Knew, etc. lxxxix. (1878) 494 Some said..that she was going out like the snuff of a candle.
c. fig. or in fig. context (see quots. and cf. prec.).
1589Hay any Work 39 Why thou vnsauorly snuffe, dost tow thinke that men know not D. Bridges? 1601Shakes. All's Well i. ii. 59 Let me not liue..After my flame lackes oyle, to be the snuffe Of yonger spirits. 1652N. Culverwel Lt. Nature i. xviii. (1661) 166 The Lamp of a Moralist..may go out in a snuff. a1680Charnock Attrib. God (1834) II. 525 Were such filthy snuffs fit of themselves to be kindled by..a gospel beam? 1705tr. Bosman's Guinea 410 The Buffel soon trod out the small remainder of the Snuff of his Life. 1742Young Nt. Th. viii. 467 How mean that snuff of glory fortune lights, And death puts out!
d. Used to denote something of no value.
1778F. Burney Evelina lxxxii, Who..cares the snuff of a candle? 1887W. S. Gilbert Ruddigore ii, You don't care the snuff of a candle.
2. The nozzle of a lamp, in which the wick burns.
1611Cotgr., Bec de la lampe, the socket, or snuffe of the lampe. 1797Monthly Mag. III. 507 There is also a little portative lamp, having only one snuff.
†3. A heel-tap; a portion of a drink left at the bottom of a cup. Obs.
1592Nashe P. Penilesse Wks. (Grosart) II. 83 Rather keepe a snuffe in the bottome of the glasse to light you to bed withall. 1616R. C. Times' Whistle (1871) 60 Then each must haue his bout And drink vp all; to leave a litle snuffe Is petty treason. 1647[H. Nevile] Parliam. of Ladies Title-p., Either malice, or want of wit, hightned with snoffes of Ale or stayned Claret. 1673O. Walker Educ. ii. i. 218 Drinking many in the same cup; and many times the snuffs left by the former. 1731–8Swift Polite Conv. 163 (Miss drinking part of a Glass of Wine). Neverout. Pray, let me drink your Snuff.
fig.a1640Jackson Creed xi. xix, The devil still labours to glut men.., then he vents his snuffs or refuse upon them.
II.
4. †a. to take..in (the) snuff (or to snuff), to take (a matter) amiss, to take offence at, to be annoyed or indignant at, to resent. Obs.
The original reference was no doubt to the unpleasant smell proceeding from the smoking snuff of a candle, but there may also have been association with snuff n.2 or v.2 The phrase was especially common between 1580 and 1660.
1560J. Daus Sleidane's Comm. 463 A brute went that the Pope toke it in snuffe [L. indigne tulisse] that this truce was made. 1570Foxe A. & M. 2281/1 This matter the Justice tooke sore to snuffe, and was very angry. 1579W. Wilkinson Confut. Fam. Love 41 Hee..taketh it greatly in the snuffe, that his stuffe..should be brought to light. 1617Moryson Itin. iii. 28 Englishmen, especially being young and unexperienced, are apt to take all things in snuffe. 1661Pepys Diary 6 Oct., Mr. Mills.., I expect, should take it in snuffe that my wife did not come to his child's christening the other day. 1716T. Ward Eng. Ref. 129 Pray take it not, you old Cur-mudgeon, So much in snuff and evil dudgeon.
b. to take snuff, to take offence or umbrage (at a thing). Obs. exc. arch.
In quot. 1821 associated with snuff n.3 (cf. pepper n. 4 b).
1565Allen Defence Purg. xiv. 262 Aërius,..taking snoffe that he could not get a bisshoprike, fell in to the hæresy of Arius. 1597Beard Theatre God's Judgem. (1612) 195 The yonker taking snuffe thereat, Why (said hee) takest thou thought for me? 1610Holland Camden's Brit. ii. 211 Which the Manksmen hearing, tooke such a snuffe and indignation thereat that they sent for Olave. 1640Fuller Joseph's Coat (1867) 51 Let us heed how we take snuff at the simplicity of God's ordinance. 1692R. L'Estrange Fables i. clxxxv. 156 Jupiter took Snuff at the Contempt, and Punish'd him for't. 1725New Cant. Dict. s.v., To take Snuff, to take Pet. [1821Scott Kenilw. i, But take no snuff in the nose about it. 1876G. H. Kingsley Sport & Trav. (1900) 322 With hearty hoping that North Britons will not take huffe nor snuffe at these kindly criticisms.]
5. A fit of indignation; a huff, pet, rage, passion. Used with a, the, or without article. Now Sc.
(a)1592Greene Upst. Courtier Wks. (Grosart) XI. 279 These were going away in a snuff, for beeing thus plainly taunted. 1605Shakes. Lear iii. i. 26 Either in snuffes, and packings of the Dukes, Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne Against the old kinde King. c1620Bp. Hall Contempl., O.T. xiv. (1628) 1145 Abners duty..not to flye out in a snuffe.
(b)1607S. Collins Serm. (1608) 184 Smothering the talent that he lent thee..in snuffe, and pelting discontent. 1609B. Jonson Sil. Wom. iv. v, He went away in snuffe, and I followed him. 1665Pepys Diary 19 Sept., I find they go up in snuffe to bed without taking any manner of leave of them.
(c)1886Stevenson Kidnapped iii. 18 Dinnae fly up in the snuff at me. 1898J. M. Cobban Angel of Covenant xi. 124 The mighty high snuff and dudgeon ye gaed aff wi'.
†6. attrib. Angry, violent. Obs.—1
1582Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 68 Now me the Myrmidones for captiue prisoner hold not, Nor sterne snuff Dolopans.
7. Used attrib. to designate pornographic photographs or films involving the actual killing of a woman. [Cf. snuff v.1 1 d.]
1975Whig-Standard (Kingston, Ontario) 2 Oct. 3/6 New York City police detective Joseph Horman said..that the 8-millimetre, eight-reel films called ‘snuff’ or ‘slasher’ movies had been in tightly controlled distribution for a month. 1975Globe & Mail (Toronto) 20 Nov. 7/4 There are reports of ‘snuff films’ in the United States, pornographic movies that contain all the usual perversions but culminate with women being mutilated and killed—for real. 1976New Musical Express 31 Jan. 11/3 The ‘snuff movie’, a kind of ultimate pornography that has at its climax the supposedly unfaked murder of a young woman. 1977Daily Colonist (Victoria, B.C.) 23 July 3/2 Charged with attempted murder in the making of ‘snuff’ photographic stills. 1978S. Sheldon Bloodline xlii. 360 For the last several years we have been hearing increasing rumors of snuff films, pornographic films in which at the end of the sexual act the victim is murdered on camera. 1981Observer 12 July 39/4 The merchants and devotees of ‘snuff porn’ require that the masochistic models who pose for it actually die while receiving some hideous sexual punishment. At the actual moment of death the models are photographed in full colour, with very good lighting.
▪ II. snuff, n.2|snʌf|
Also 6–7 snuffe.
[f. snuff v.2 Cf. MDu. and Du. snuf, snof snuffing, snuffling, cold in the head, scent (of a thing), G. schnuff scent, nose, LG. snüff nose, snout; also MDu. snuuf, snuyf, LG. snûf snuffing, snuffles.]
1. An (or the) act of snuffing, esp. as an expression of contempt or disdain.
1570Dee Math. Pref. 10 Other (perchaunce) with a proud snuffe will disdain this litle. 1593R. Bancroft Daungerous Positions iv. iii. 140 These points are..passed ouer with a snuffe, and with great disdaine. 1629Gaule Holy Madnesse 198 Nought but a glance, a puffe, a snuffe, a frown. 1809Malkin Gil Blas iv. viii. ⁋9 That hound-like snuff at an ill construction, with which the devil has armed the noses of the most charitable. 1840Hood Up Rhine 178 Ere a horrible reek..Set the dogs on the snuff. 1849C. Brontë Shirley viii, His nostrils emitted a derisive and defiant snuff. 1866[see snivel n. 4].
b. A persistent snuffling; a disease in sheep.
a1585Montgomerie Flyting 308 The snuff and the snoire, the chaud-peece, the chanker. 1902Westm. Gaz. 13 June 10/2 A sheep affected soon becomes thin and languid, and its painful snuffling has led farmers to call the disease ‘snuff’.
†2. A puff, blast. Obs.
1613J. Davies (Heref.) Muse's Tears Wks. (Grosart) I. 15/1 Then, let Fates Snuffes and Puffes as winds of Grace, Serene the Heauen of your Maiestick Face. 1642D. Rogers Naaman 439 Though it lye long in the moulds by reason of cold snuffes of weather.
3. Smell, odour, scent.
1763Stukeley Palæogr. Sacr. 93 The immortal, the eternal,..wants not the snuff of mortal incense, for his, but for our own sakes. 1844Hood The Turtles 34 All whiffs, and sniffs, and puffs, and snuffs, From metals, minerals, and dyewood stuffs.
4. An inhalation, a sniff, of something.
1822Galt Sir A. Wylie lxxv, Take a snuff of caller air on the brow of the hill. 1852Mrs. Stowe Uncle Tom's C. 151 One snuff of anything disagreeable being..sufficient to put an end to all her earthly trials.
▪ III. snuff, n.3|snʌf|
[prob. ad. Du. and Flem. snuf or snuif (WFris. snuf) in the same sense, app. an abbreviation of snuiftabak (cf. LG. snuvtobak, G. schnupftabak, for which Swiss dial. has schnupf, schnopf): cf. prec. and snuff v.2]
1. a. A preparation of powdered tobacco for inhaling through the nostrils ( in the Southern United States, usually taken orally).
The practice of taking snuff appears to have become fashionable about 1680, but prevailed earlier in Ireland and Scotland (see smutchin and sneezing vbl. n. 2 b).
1683Lond. Gaz. No. 1800/4 James Norcock, Snuffmaker and Perfumer,..sells all sorts of Snuffs, Spanish and Italian. 1703Ibid. No. 3963/3 Tobacco at 2d. per lb. Snuff 4d. 2q. per lb. 1724Swift Reasons agst. Exam. Drugs Wks. 1755 III. i. 127 The makers of snuff, who..employ by far the greatest number of hands of any manufacture of the kingdom. 1796F. Burney Camilla III. 142 She perceived him, a few yards off, taking a pinch of snuff. 1815Elphinstone Acc. Caubul (1842) I. 307 Their snuff is a dry and fine powder like Scotch snuff. 1837Dickens Pickw. ii, He took snuff with everybody. 1849[see dip v. 5]. 1884F. M. Crawford Rom. Singer I. 23 Ercole takes snuff when he is not smoking. 1891M. E. Ryan Pagan of Alleghanies 105 [Does] your deity of the lower world..chew snuff? 1907Dialect Notes III. 230 Dip (snuff), v.t., to smear snuff on the gums with a brush made by chewing the end of a small stick. 1913[see dip v. 5]. 1951W. Faulkner Knight's Gambit 87 We watched him take..a tin of snuff and tilt a measure of it into the lid and then into his lower lip, tapping the final grain from the lid with..deliberation.
transf.1709Brit. Apollo No. 4. 4/2 A Most Excellent Cephalick Water, or Liquid Snuff.
fig.1719D'Urfey Pills V. 90 A Wench..Gave Snuff to me, Out of her Placket box. 1819Shelley Peter Bell 3rd iii. xix. 3 Sometimes the poor are damned indeed To take..Cobbett's snuff, revenge.
b. Any powder used like snuff, esp. for medical purposes; a sternutatory or errhine. rare.
1861S. Thomson Wild Fl. iii. (ed. 4) 306 Of one, the sneeze-wort yarrow (Achillea ptarmica), the leaves..are used as a snuff in head affections.
c. The colour of snuff. Also attrib. or as adj.
1951[see mustard n. 1 f]. 1974Times 26 Nov. 19/6 Colour combinations..snuff/ice, blue/white.
2. a. A pinch of snuff. [So WFlem. snuuf.]
17..Ramsay Vision xxi. Poems 1877 I. 127 Gallus sneerd and tuke a snuff. 1818Scott Hrt. Midl. Prol., I will enrich..thy nose with a snuff from my mull. 1863A. H. Charteris Life Robertson x. 308 A snuff between his finger and thumb which he had no time to take. 1897Pryde Queer Folk Fife 87 In his excitement he took four or five snuffs consecutively.
b. Used to denote something of small value.
1809Donaldson Poems 72 My memory, man, 's no worth a snuff. 1844W. Cross Disruption xviii, I wadna gie a snuff for ony minister but a parish minister. 1881W. Walker in Edwards Mod. Sc. Poets Ser. iii. 106 They'll care nae a snuff though grim poverty shake ye.
c. A pinch, a very small quantity, of something.
1842J. Aiton Domest. Econ. 258 Put a snuff of the carbonate of soda into the broth pot when it first comes to boil. 1883Cassell's Bk. Sports & Pastimes 50 A snuff of sand, or tuft of grass, to give the requisite elevation.
3. In colloquial phrases:
a. up to snuff, knowing, sharp, not easily deceived; up to the required or usual standard, up to scratch. Also attrib.
1811Poole Hamlet Trav. ii. i, He knows well enough The game we're after: Zooks, he's up to snuff. 1823Egan Grose's Dict. Vulg. T. s.v. Up, Up to snuff, and a pinch above it. 1848Dickens Dombey xxxi, An up-to-snuff old vagabond. 1879Howells L. Aroostook xxii, You American ladies are so—up to snuff, as you say. 1906J. London Let. 31 May (1966) 204 As usual, your criticisms are right up to snuff. 1931Punch 4 Nov. 495/2 Now Romney painted well enough, And Reynolds too, they say, And Gainsborough's things are up to snuff, And Lawrence had his day. 1943E. B. White Let. 20 Mar. (1976) 239 The Central Park piece..is up to snuff or better. 1944R. Lehmann Ballad & Source 204 Madame Jardine says you're to go and see her for a few minutes. Only a few to-day. She's not quite up to snuff. 1974S. Ellin Stronghold 33 He did not..go as far as some Quakers by convincement and suggest that birthright Quakers are not quite up to snuff. 1982N. & Q. Feb. 83/1 The publisher's rejection of such received proceedings reflects, I suppose, their commitment to a databank, annual slices of which will suffice to bring future editions of their guides up to snuff.
b. to beat to snuff, to beat utterly.
1819Blackw. Mag. V. 638 All other Colleges, thou beat'st to snuff.
c. in high snuff, in high feather; elated.
1840R. H. Dana Bef. Mast xvi, The Sandwich-Islanders rode down, and were in ‘high snuff’.
d. to give (one) snuff, to deal sharply or severely with; to punish.
1890[R. C. Lehmann] Harry Fludyer 30 He rather gave me snuff about my extravagance. 1896Baden-Powell Matabele Campaign vii, Then with eager haste..he dashed up the rocks to ‘give the nigger snuff’.
4. attrib. and Comb., as snuff-bottle, snuff-colour, snuff hand, snuff-handkerchief, snuff-mundungus, snuff-rasp, snuff-shop, snuff-spoon, snuff-stain, snuff-stick, snuff-work; obj. and obj. gen., as snuff-grinder, snuff-maker, snuff-manufacturer, snuff-merchant, snuff-taker, snuff-taking, snuff-using; instrumental and parasynthetic, as snuff-clad, snuff-headed, snuff-stained; similative, as snuff-brown. Also snuff-box, -coloured, etc.
1850Spirit of Times 16 Mar. 41/3 Did you see..that old *snuff-bottle? 1884Gilmour Mongols 90 After snuff bottles had been exchanged.
1818Scott Hrt. Midl. Prol., A new coat (*snuff-brown, and with metal buttons). 1857Livingstone Trav. xvii. 319 He had on a snuff-brown coat.
1790Wolcot (P. Pindar) Elegy to Apollo Wks. 1812 II. 278 In proud disdain their *snuff-clad noses rise.
1698Phil. Trans. XX. 461 Down of a dark yellowish *Snuff-Colour. 1883T. Hardy in Longman's Mag. July 256 Her dress and that of the children were mostly of faded snuff-colour.
1763Brit. Mag. July 337/1 He next took up salt with the finger and thumb of his *snuff hand.
1695Motteux tr. St. Olon's Morocco 65 His Face muffled up in a *Snuff-Handkerchief, of a dirty hue. [1711Swift Jrnl. to Stella 4 May, I have been a mighty handkerchief-monger, and have bought abundance of snuff ones since I have left off taking snuff.]
1849Zoologist VII. 2393 The pochard is a ‘*snuff-headed wigeon’.
1683Lond. Gaz. No. 1800/4 *Snuffmaker and Perfumer. 1764Ann. Reg. 108 A dreadful fire broke out in the workshop of a snuff-maker.
1822(title), The British Perfumer, *Snuff-Manufacturer, and Colourman's Guide.
1818Scott Hrt. Midl. xxxv, My worthy *snuff-merchant.
1678Butler Hud. iii. ii. 1006 After h'had ministred a Dose Of *Snuff-Mundungus, to his Nose.
1711Swift Wks. (1824) II. 407 A fine *snuff-rasp of ivory. 1859Fairholt Tobacco (1876) 244 A similar snuff-rasp to this.
1767S. Paterson Another Trav. I. 192, I had recruited myself at one of the best *snuff-shops in Bruges. 1802Edin. Rev. I. 109 Doomed to quiet repose in a snuff-shop.
1892Rider Haggard Nada xx. 166 Watching the two of them over the edge of my *snuff-spoon.
1914Joyce Dubliners 13 The red handkerchief,..blackened..with the *snuff-stains of a week.
1791Wolcot (P. Pindar) Magpie & Robin Wks. 1812 II. 473 With *snuff-stain'd neckcloth.
1879Tourgee Fool's Err. (1883) 43 She had a *snuff-stick in her mouth.
1710Tatler No. 141 ⁋6 The Whetter is obliged to refresh himself every moment with a liquor, as the *Snuff-taker with a powder. 1857E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Scot. Life & C. iii, The inveterate snuff-taker.
1775Ash, *Snuff-taking, the act or practice of taking snuff. a1797in Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVII. 565 Allowing 16 hours to a snuff-taking day. 1801Southey Lett. (1856) I. 174 As I have written a reasoning defence of snuff⁓taking. 1813Examiner 17 May 318/1 The reader has heard of his inordinate snuff-takings.
1886Pall Mall G. 10 Aug. 11/3 *Snuff-using..is on the decline.
1812J. Smyth Pract. Customs (1821) 259 No Tobacco Stalks or *Snuff-work allowed to be imported on penalty of forfeiture.
5. Special combs.: snuff-bean, the tonka-bean, used for scenting snuff; one of these kept in a snuff-box for this purpose; snuff-dipper U.S. (see quot. 1859); also snuff-dipping; snuff-gourd, a bottle gourd, the dried shell of the fruit of Lagenaria siceraria, a white-flowered annual vine; = snuff-box gourd s.v. snuff-box 3; snuffman, a dealer in snuff; snuff-paper (in contemptuous use), bank-notes; snuff-swab U.S. (see quot.).
1898in Eng. Dial. Dict. s.v., In the corner o' his mull there aye lay buried a scentit *snuff-bean.
1845T. J. Green Texian Exped. x. 137 We believe the most filthy of all practices is that of your..‘*snuff⁓dippers’. 1859Bartlett Dict. Amer. (ed. 2) 424 Snuff-dipper, one who makes a practice of chewing snuff. 1896Amer. Missionary Oct. 324 One sister who had been a snuff-dipper for more than twenty years.
1860E. Cowell Jrnl. 22 Apr. in M. W. Disher Cowells in Amer. (1934) 65 The ladies have a habit.., ‘*snuff dipping’ which is openly practised in the South, and privately indulged in, in the North. 1896Amer. Missionary Oct. 324 The vile habit of snuff-dipping.
1901Kipling Kim iv. 99 The lama dipped deep into his *snuff⁓gourd. 1921United Free Church Missionary Rec. June 190/2 Her dress consists simply of a ragged apron of goatskin, and a snuff-gourd hung round her neck.
1723Lond. Gaz. No. 6195/7 Abraham Carcas,..*Snuffman. 1852Savage R. Medlicott iii. i, The shop of a snuffman of the present day.
1826Scott Mal. Malagr. iii. 8 The want of gold, to supply the place of that *snuff-paper of yours.
1872Schele de Vere Americanisms 63 The dipping-stick is also called *snuff-swab.
▪ IV. snuff, int. Sc.
= stuff int.
1725Ramsay Gentle Sheph. ii. i, Spin! Snuff!—Gae break your wheel. 1807–10R. Tannahill Poems (1846) 21 Toot, snuff! 'bout news ye needna be sae thrang.
▪ V. snuff, v.1|snʌf|
Also 5–6 snoffe, 6–7 snuffe.
[f. snuff n.1 LG. snuppen, G. schnuppen, are used as in sense 1.]
1. a. trans. To free (a candle, wick, etc.) from the snuff, by pinching or cutting this off, or removing it with a special instrument.
c1450in Aungier Syon (1840) 367 To lyghte and quenche the tapers and candles, and snoffe them. 1465Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.) 492 Item, the same day my master bowt a snoffer to snoffe wyth candeles. 1530Palsgr. 724/1 Snoffe the candell, I can nat se to write els. 1573R. Lever in Luckombe Hist. Print. (1771) 111 The first lighteth the candle..and the second doth but snuff it. 1652N. Culverwel Lt. Nature i. ii. (1661) 9 Some unskilful ones, while they go about to snuff the Candle,..put it out. 1691T. Birch Life Boyle B.'s Wks. 1772 I. p. cxxxiv, When the candles are newly snuffed and so the light increased. 1753Hanway Trav. iii. xxxiii. (1762) I. 151 In the middle of the room..was one large wax-candle; which they snuffed with scissers. 1793Phil. Trans. LXXXIV. 100 The candle being occasionally snuffed when it appeared to stand in need of it. 1815J. Smith Panorama Sci. & Art II. 316 The candle or lamp..should have a thick wick, which should be snuffed clean. 1841Dickens Barn. Rudge x, John..placed a pair of..candlesticks on the table, and snuffed the lights they held. 1887T. A. Trollope What I remember I. i. 26 Two tallow candles, requiring to be snuffed by snuffers lying in a little plated tray.
absol.1637Heywood Pleas. Dial. Wks. 1874 VI. 321 To cleare the taper, if you snuffe too deepe, Out goes the light.
b. fig. To make clearer or brighter; to purge.
1574Hellowes Gueuara's Fam. Ep. (1577) 355 It shall not be ouermuch..euerie weeke..once or twice to purge and snuffe the soule. 1577tr. Bullinger's Decades (1592) 348 The ministers of Christ must be..throughly snuffed from all affections of the flesh. 1651Hobbes Leviath. i. v. 22 By exact definitions first snuffed, and purged from ambiguity. a1715Halifax On C'tess Dowager of *** 5 Mopsa..Sets up for charming, in her fading days; Snuffs her dim eyes to give one parting blow.
c. To suppress temporarily. rare—1.
1650Fuller Pisgah i. x. 33 The Babylonish captivity did onely snuffe Judah for seventy years.
d. slang. = sense 2 d below.
1973C. Alverson Fighting Back xxv. 129 Wait'll you see what you've got when Speranza finds out that you put Gino in a position to get snuffed. 1976F. Warner Killing Time i. i. 7 They had to sneak over and come back with a prisoner, and most got snuffed themselves. 1978T. Gifford Glendower Legacy (1979) 158 We should have snuffed this little shit when we had the chance.
2. With out:
†a. To remove by snuffing. Obs.
c1430Wycliffite Bible Exod. xxv. 38 Where tho thingis, that ben snottid [v.r. snuffid] out, ben quenchid.
b. To extinguish, put out; to cause to go out or disappear from sight.
1687Miége Gt. Fr. Dict. ii, To snuff out the Candle. 1818Byron Juan xi. lx, 'Tis strange the mind, that fiery particle, Should let itself be snuff'd out by an article. 1841Dickens Barn. Rudge iii, Slight yellow specks, that seemed to be rapidly snuffed out one by one. 1890Science-Gossip XXVI. 271 During these occultations the light of the star is instantaneously snuffed out, as it were, when overtaken by the moon's limb.
c. To eclipse, efface, wipe out; to terminate (life).
1852Hawker Diary (1893) II. 340, I hope to see the Minié snuffed out, no matter by whom. 1873C. M. Davies Unorthodox London I. 46 At first the attempt was made to ‘snuff out’ ‘The Sling and the Stone’. 1874L. Stephen Hours in Libr. (1892) II. v. 149 A silly coxcombry to be..snuffed out by the worldly cynicism of the new generation. 1929Hall & Niles One Man's War iii. 25 We..knew..that many lives would be snuffed out ere long. 1981Telegraph (Brisbane) 23 Jan. 4/5 A prosecution witness today admitted she was content that the life of the man known as ‘Mr Asia’ should be snuffed out.
d. slang. To kill, to murder.
1932E. Wallace When Gangs came to London xxviii. 285 Eddie would have snuffed out Cora. 1973Philadelphia Inquirer 7 Oct. (Today Suppl.) 12/1 ‘You're saying you're going to snuff that guy out before you know?’.. ‘The people who are murdered didn't get an equal chance.’ 1980E. Behr Getting Even xv. 174 If I cause too much embarrassment, they'll just snuff me out.
3. a. intr. To die. slang or colloq. Also const. out.
1865Slang Dict. 239 Snuff out, to die. 1895A. C. Bicknell Trav. N. Queensland xxi. 186 The old man was very feeble, and looked like snuffing out before he had completed his story. 1916C. J. Dennis Songs of Sentimental Bloke v. 43 They think she's snuffed, an' plant 'er in 'er tomb.
b. With it: = prec. slang.
1885Sims Rogues & Vagabonds iv. 21 Josh Heckett isn't going to snuff it just for a crack on the head. 1896Daily News 26 Mar. 6/4, I have the pleasure to inform you that your mother-in-law snuffed it.
▪ VI. snuff, v.2|snʌf|
Also 6 snoffe, 6–7 snuffe.
[prob. ad. MDu. snoffen, snuffen to snuffle, etc., corresponding to G. dial. schnuffen, † schnüffen (cf. also LG. and MHG. snûfen, G. schnaufen), either of imitative origin, or related to MDu. snuven, etc.: see snuve v. In sense 8 perhaps directly from snuff n.3]
I. trans.
1. To draw up or in through the nostrils by the action of inhalation.
1527Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters D iv, The same water snuffed upward in the nose is very good to puryfye the hede. 1555Eden Decades (Arb.) 101 Snuffinge vp into theyr nosethryls the pouder. 1579E. K. Gloss. Spenser's Sheph. Cal. Feb. 75 Venteth, snuffeth in the wind. 1608D. T. Ess. Pol. & Mor. 59 b, For euen so likewise may those little Atomies be snuft vp with the ayre. 1632tr. Bruel's Praxis Med. 151 We will make a powder..and snuffe this vp into the nose. 1697Phil. Trans. XIX. 681 The Juice of this Weed being snuft up the Nose, is good to make one sneeze. 1746Berkeley Sec. Let. Tar-water §15 Tar-water hath been snuffed up the nostrils. 1782F. Burney Cecilia ix. i, Then I take a walk..and snuff in a little fresh country air. 1818Scott Rob Roy xxviii, Snuffing up his breath through his nose. 1872Huxley Physiol. viii. 197 When we wish to perceive a faint odour more distinctly, we sniff, or snuff up the air.
fig.1629H. Burton Truth's Triumph 224 These Pontificians..snuffing vp the winde of vaine opinions. 1639G. Daniel Vervic. 485 Like to those Who put on Sullen lookes, and grumble short, Who Snuffe poore Women vp, with a hot Nose.
2. To inhale, draw up, into or through the nostrils.
to snuff pepper: see pepper n. 4 b.
1547Boorde Brev. Health §264 The pouder of Peper..snuft or blowen into the nose doth make quycke sternutacions. 1615Rowlands Melancholie Knt. 13 Snuffe some into your nostrils till you neese. 1642H. More Song of Soul iii. i. xxix, The nostrills snuff perfumed wind. 1726Pope Odyss. xix. 508 The pack impatient snuff the tainted gale. 1774Nicholls in Corresp. w. Gray (1843) 175 There I snuffed once more the fragrance of that air. 1814Scott Wav. xxxviii, The leading Highlander snuffed the wind like a setting spaniel. 1870Morris Earthly Par. III. iv. 239 The Persian merchants stood and snuffed the scent Of frankincense.
fig.1844Disraeli Coningsby ix. vi. 325 They snuffed the factious air, and felt the coming storm.
b. To draw out by snuffing. rare—1.
1648Hexham ii, Snuyven, ofte snuffen, to Snuffe out the Snot or Filth out of ones Nose.
†3. To clear (the nose) by inhalation. Obs.
1561Hollybush Hom. Apoth. 3 If he can not snoffe his nose. 1653Urquhart Rabelais i. xx, Master Janotus with his Adherents vowed never to blow or snuffe their noses, until judgement were given.
4. To detect, perceive, or anticipate, by inhaling the odour of. Also freq. fig.
1697Dryden Virg. Georg. i. 519 The Cow..from afar can find The Change of Heav'n, and snuffs it in the Wind. a1763Shenstone Elegies xxii. 82 E'en now the villain snuffs his wonted prey. 1790P. Francis in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880) 307, I snuff it [i.e. mischief] in the wind. I taste it already. 1810Southey Kehama vi. i, What if the hungry tiger..Should snuff his banquet nigh? 1830Gen. P. Thompson Exerc. (1842) I. 287 The high church and the tories snuff the possibility of another revolutionary war. 1863W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ii. 41 The old bull snuffed danger in the wind.
5. To smell at, examine by smelling.
1859Brown Rab & Fr. §11 He [a dog]..snuffed him all over. 1874Blackie Self Cult. 29 Like the racing of some little dog about the moor, snuffing everything and catching nothing. 1888T. Frost Country Journalist iii. 34 He observed a dog..snuff the earth at the edge of the swampy ground.
II. intr.
6. To draw air, etc., into the nostrils by an effort of inhalation; to do this in order to smell something. Also const. after, at.
α1530Palsgr. 724/1, I snoffe, as a man doth, or a horse, je reniffle. Herke how he snoffeth. 1535Coverdale Jer. ii. 23 Like a wilde Asse..that snoffeth and bloweth.
βc1530Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 163 Than sir Isembarte..snuffed in the nose, and bette togyder his teth. 1553Respublica iii. iv. 775 Come the devill, yf hym luste, staring and snuffing. 1614B. Jonson Bart. Fair ii. v, Go, snuffe after your brothers bitch. 1672Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.) Rehearsal i. (Arb.) 43 So Boar and Sow, when any storm is nigh, Snuff up, and smell it gath'ring in the Skie. a1720Sewel Hist. Quakers (1795) II. vii. 61 But the bull snuffing, went a little back. a1761Cawthorne Antiquarians 265 Quick to his side he flies amain, And peeps, and snuffs, and peeps again. 1826Scott Woodst. iii, The good hound..continued to snuff around Joseph Tomkins's cloak. 1863W. C. Baldwin Afr. Hunting ix. 389 He elevated head and tail, snuffed, trotted, and snorted. 1879Beerbohm Patagonia iv. 61, I woke, roused by some horse which..was snuffing at me curiously.
b. Const. up one's nose.
1714in Addison Lover No. 10, He will also snuff up his nose and spit it out as he eats. 1741Chesterfield Lett. 25 July, Tricks such as snuffing up his nose. 1756C. Smart tr. Horace, Sat. ii. vii. (1826) II. 161, I am easily seduced by my appetite; I snuff up my nose at a savoury smell.
7. To express scorn, disdain, or contempt by snuffing; to sniff. Freq. const. at a thing or person. Now rare or Obs.
(a)1544T. Phaer Bk. Childr. (1553) A ij, Suche..will doo nothinge but detract and iudge other, snuffing at all that offendeth the noses. 1575Gascoigne Glasse of Govt. Wks. 1910 II. 69 That one being ignorant of that others punishment, shall never grudge or snuffe at the same. 1643Lismore Papers Ser. ii. (1888) V. 139 Being snuffed at by some great ones, none of the rest wold signe. 1677Gilpin Demonol. Sacra (1867) 107 Satan first presented these services as a wearisome burden, then they snuffed at them.
(b)1567Drant Horace, Ep. De Arte Poet. A vij, The noble, honorable rytche..will snuffe, and take it peper in the nose. 1579Tomson Calvin's Serm. Tim. 61/2 Curssed shall he be, that shal dare to snuffe against his creator. 1607Hieron Wks. I. 332 When the word of God is preached,..many worldlings begin by and by to snuffe. 1674Bunyan Christ. Behaviour Wks. 1852 II. 568 It argueth pride when..thou snuffest and givest way to thy spirit to be peevish. 1809Malkin Gil Blas xii. vi. (Rtldg.) 431 If any of my acquaintance should snuff or snigger when they call me Don.
8. To inhale powdered tobacco; to take snuff.
1725Ramsay Gentle Sheph. iii. ii. Prol., The auld anes think it best..to..Snuff, crack, and take their rest. 1826Disraeli Viv. Grey v. ii, ‘Do you snuff?’ and here he extended to Vivian a gold box. 1858E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. Scot. Life & Char. v, I hope you do not let him snuff so much as he did. 1881P. B. Du Chaillu Land Midnight Sun II. 92 The men and women smoked and snuffed a great deal.
▪ VII. snuff, v.3 Cant.
[f. snuff n.3 1.]
intr. To blind (a shopkeeper) with snuff in order to steal.
1812J. H. Vaux Flash Dict. s.v. Snuffing.
▪ VIII. snuff, v.4 techn.
[Of obscure origin.]
trans. To smooth (leather) in the process of currying.
1897C. T. Davis Manuf. Leather 429 The leather is then set out either by machine or hand, and hung to dry, and when dry..is taken down and snuffed with a buffing slicker. |