Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense snaffles, present participle snaffling, past tense, past participle snaffled
1. countable noun
A snaffle is an object consisting of two short joined bars of metal that is put in a horse's mouth and attached to the straps that the rider uses to control the horse.
2. verb
If you snaffle something, you take it for yourself.
[British, informal]
Michael Stich then proceeded to snaffle the $2 million first prize. [VERB noun]
snaffle in British English
(ˈsnæfəl)
noun
1. Also called: snaffle bit
a simple jointed bit for a horse
verb(transitive)
2. British informal
to steal or take for oneself
3.
to equip or control with a snaffle
Word origin
C16: of uncertain origin; compare Old Frisian snavel mouth, Old High German snabul beak
snaffle in American English
(ˈsnæfəl)
noun
1.
a bit, usually light and jointed, attached to a bridle and having no curb
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈsnaffled or ˈsnaffling
2.
to fit with or control by a snaffle
3. British, Informal
to purloin or snitch
Word origin
short for snaffle piece, prob. < Du snavel, horse's muzzle < ODu *snabel, dim. of *snabbe, bill of a bird, akin to Ger schnabel: see snap
Examples of 'snaffle' in a sentence
snaffle
He played at a delivery he might have left and was snaffled at second slip.