▪ I. snarling, vbl. n.1
(ˈsnɑːlɪŋ)
[f. snarl v.1]
1. The action of snaring, entangling, or twisting. Also attrib. in snarling-net.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 461/2 Snarynge, or snarlynge, illaqueacio. 1601 Dent Pathw. Heaven 83 This world is..a snarling net, wherein thousands are taken. 1615 Markham Pleas. Prin. ii. (1635) 8 Twist your hayres..without eyther snarling, or gaping one from another. 1853 Ure Dict. Arts (ed. 4) II. 831 Thus preventing a snarling or damage of the yarn. |
2. (See quot.) rare—1.
| 1750 W. Ellis Mod. Husb. III. iii. 88 Some [sheets] are made of the worst sort of hemp, called Snarlings. |
▪ II. snarling, vbl. n.2
(ˈsnɑːlɪŋ)
[f. snarl v.2]
The action of the vb., in various senses; the sound produced by this.
| 1591 Percivall Sp. Dict., Gañido, the snarling of a dogge. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. v. iv, We three vnto the snarling Iland hast, And there our vexed breath in snarling wast. 1632 Lithgow Trav. ix. 401 The bussing of Bees, or snarling of Wolues. 1672 Sir T. Browne Let. Friend 143 His sober contempt of the world wrought..no laughing or snarling at it. 1806 Sir C. Bell Anat. Expression 90 This action of snarling is quite peculiar to the ferocious and carnivorous animals. 1863 Geo. Eliot Romola xxii, There was no care that certain snarlings..should be strictly inaudible. |
| attrib. 1806 Sir C. Bell Anat. Expression 90 In the carnivorous animal the muscles of the lips are so directed as to raise the lip from the canine teeth... The former I would take the liberty of distinguishing by the name of Ringentes, snarling muscles. |
▪ III. snarling, vbl. n.3
(ˈsnɑːlɪŋ)
[Cf. snarl v.3]
A method of producing raised work in metal by means of indirect percussion. Chiefly attrib. in snarling-iron, snarling-tool.
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 259/2 Terms of Art used by the Gold-smiths... Snarling is to set or punch it [the metal] out as the shape is drawn. Ibid. xxi. (Roxb.) 267/2 He beareth..three snarling Irons Argent... These snarling Irons haue sharp ends. 1843 Holtzapffel Turning I. 412 When the snarling-iron is struck with a hammer..the re-action gives a blow within the vessel. 1877 G. E. Gee Silversmith's Handbk. 122, Fig. 32 and 33 represent the snarling-tool. |
▪ IV. snarling, ppl. a.
(ˈsnɑːlɪŋ)
[f. snarl v.2]
1. That snarls; given to snarling: a. Of dogs or other animals.
| 1595 Locrine v. iv, The snarling curres of darkened Tartarus. 1612 Field Woman is Weathercock i. i, The snarling dogs were mute. 1675 Marvel Corr. Wks. (Grosart) II. 489 Not at all..dejected or much concerned with such snarling currs. 1753 J. Collier Art Torment. i. i. (1811) 28 Little snarling lap-dogs. 1828–32 Webster, Growler, a snarling cur. |
b. transf. Of persons.
| 1593 Nashe Christ's T. 69 b, Nought but sharpe discipline, is a fitte disputant with snarling Scismatiques. 1635 W. Barriffe Mil. Discipl. lxx. (1643) 187 Snarling Cynicks, I know, will carpe at my curiositie. 1732 Berkeley Alciphr. v. §28 A pack of snarling sour bigots. 1841 Thackeray Gt. Hoggarty Diam. v, All admired it hugely, except that snarling Scotchman. 1884 Nonconf. & Indep. 19 June 594/2 This perpetual worrying, by snarling busybodies,..of the greatest statesman of the age. |
2. Of the nature of, accompanied or characterized by, snarling.
| 1599 (title), Micro-cynicon: Sixe Snarling Satyres. 1633 Bp. Hall Occas. Med. (1851) 29, I had justly drawn on..this snarling importunity. 1667 Temple Wks. (1720) II. 44 Such a snarling Peace as that at Breda. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 2 ¶9 Long this uncomfortable Life they led, With snarling Meals. 1806 Med. Jrnl. XV. 504 That polite language and supreme urbanity which characterize these snarling productions. 1855 J. D. Burn Autobiogr. Beggar Boy (1859) 184 It may be supposed that I have made these observations in a snarling temper. |
3. Having or producing the sound of a snarl.
| 1602 Marston Antonio's Rev. Prol., Snarling gusts nibble the juyceles leaves. 1655 Vaughan Silex Scint. i. 81 Each snarling blast shot through me. 1820 Keats Eve St. Agnes iv, Soon, up aloft, The silver, snarling trumpets 'gan to chide. 1860 Holland Miss Gilbert's Career iv. 67 The snarling, grinding din of the gearing was hushed. 1900 St. Barbe Mod. Spain 59 The rain drove with an angry, snarling hiss. |
Hence ˈsnarlingly adv.
| 1862 Sala Acc. Addresses 35 He..denied, snarlingly, that he was worth a penny. 1865 Carlyle Fredk. Gt. xvi. xv. (1872) VI. 313 Whose reflections on it..are stingy, snarlingly contemptuous. |