sniftingn.
1. The action of sniffing; also attributive.
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the world > life > the body > respiratory organs > breathing > inhalation > [noun] > through nose
snoachinga1387
sniftingc1430
snivellingc1430
snuffing1540
sniffing1575
snuffling1580
snufflea1764
sniff1767
snuff1822
sniftera1835
sniffling1836
snivel1847
sniffle1880
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > sibilant sound > [noun] > fizz or sizzle
fizz1812
sizzle1823
fizzing1842
fizzle1842
snifting1849
sizzling1877
c1430 Freemasonry (1840) 36 From spyttynge and snyftynge kepe the also.
1755 S. Johnson Dict. Eng. Lang. Snuff,..resentment expressed by snifting.
1849 J. Craig New Universal Dict. at Snift The snifting noise made by the air in making its escape.
2. (See quot. 1890 and snift n.)
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the world > food and drink > drink > manufacture of aerated or carbonated drink > [noun] > excess air allowed to escape from bottle > action or process of
snifting1890
1890 Star 5 Nov. 4/1 There is no necessity for what under the ordinary system is called ‘snifting’—the process by which the air in the bottles is allowed to escape.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2019).
sniftingadj.
snifting valve, a valve through which air may be expelled from the cylinder of a condensing steam-engine. So †snifting clack, snifting pipe.
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society > occupation and work > equipment > machine > machines which impart power > engine > steam engine > [noun] > parts of > valves > for expelling air
snifting clack1744
snifting pipe1744
snifting valve1744
eduction1839
tail-valve1839
(a)
(b)1759 H. Wood Brit. Patent 739 2 If the hot air be driven into the cylinder with a force superior to the pressure of the atmosphere, that force will drive out the condensed air through what is now called the snifting pipe.(c)1797 J. Robison in Encycl. Brit. XVII. 748/1 The steam from the boiler will immediately rush in, and..will begin to open the snifting-valve.1846 A. Young Naut. Dict. 302 The tail-valve, or snifting-valve, is at the opposite side of the air-pump from the condenser.1878 R. H. Thurston Hist. Steam-engine 138 A snifting-valve, k, opens when the engine is blown through.1744 J. T. Desaguliers Course Exper. Philos. II. 474 This is call'd the Snifting Clack, because the Air makes a Noise every time it blows thro' it, like a Man snifting with a Cold.
1812 Smeaton Rep. I. 227 The steam, finding a passage at the snifting clack..blows out thereat.
1873 H. Evers Steam & Steam Engine iii. 50 A valve to preserve the vacuum, which valve, from the peculiar noise it made, was called the snifting valve, or snifting clack.]
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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n.c1430adj.1744