▪ I. sneak-up, n.
(ˈsniːkʌp)
[f. sneak v.; see also sneak-cup.]
A mean, servile, or cringing person; a sneak; a shirk.
| 1596 Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. iii. 99 (Q.), The prince is a iacke, a sneakeup. 1620 Shelton Quix. ii. xlv. 299 You must set other manner of Coltes vpon me then this poore nasty sneake-vp. 1775 Ash, Sneaksby, a sneakup. 1798 T. Morton Secrets III. 1 But he is such a Sneakup! Were he a boy of mettle, I would adopt him. |
| attrib. 1851 Jerrold St. Giles (1852) I. 305 It's only your sneak-up chaps, that are afraid of the glass, that get into trouble,..and catch rheumatism. |
▪ II. sneak-up, v. pseudo-arch.
Alteration of snick-up (see snick v.1), under the influence of prec.
| 1855 Kingsley Westw. Ho! xxx, Here's a fellow..talks about failing..! Blurt for him, sneak-up! say I. Ibid., Marry, sneak-up! say I again. |