ˈsniting, vbl. n.
[f. snite v.]
1. The action of the verb; a blowing or wiping of the nose or beak; the snuffing of a candle.
| c 1000 ælfric Voc. in Wr.-Wülcker 162 Sternutatio,..snytingc, uel fneosung. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 461 Snytynge, of a nose or candyl, munctura. c 1460 Vrbanitatis 19 in Babees Bk., Fro spettyng & snetyng kepe þe also. 1575 Turberv. Faulconrie 306 And ye may perceive this disease by your hawkes often sniting & by making a noyze twice or thryse in hir snyting. 1611 Cotgr., Mouchement, a snyting, or wiping of the nose. 1656 W. Dugard tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. 57 The snivel..is detained by the hairs in the nostrils, that it may not flow down before sniting. |
† 2. The snuff of a candle. Obs.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 461/2 Snytynge, of a candel, munctorium, emunctorium. 1483 Cath. Angl. 347/1 A Snytynge of a candelle, licinus, licinum. |
3. Comb., as † sniting hole; † sniting instrument, † iron, † tongs, candle-snuffers.
| 1388 Wyclif Exod. xxxvii. 23 He made also seuene lanternes, with her snytyng tongis. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. v. ii. (Tollemache MS.), Þat þe open fumositeis and boystous filþe may be voyded and clensid by open and snytynge holes. c 1475 Promp. Parv. 461/2 (K.), Snytinge instrument, munctorium, emunctorium. 1483 Cath. Angl. 347/1 A Snytynge yren, emvnctorium. |