† snick or snee, v. and n. Obs.
Also 7 steake or snye, stick or snee, 8 snic or snee; 7–8 snick-or-snee.
[orig. ad. Du. steken (G. stechen) to thrust, stick, and snijen, snijden (G. schneiden) to cut, with subsequent assimilation of the st- of the first word to the sn- of the second.
In the first quotation the form snye indicates a pronunciation of snijen similar to that in mod. standard Du.; the later snee represents a variant pron. still widely current in Du. and Flem. dialects.]
1. a. As v. To thrust or cut in fighting with a knife; to use a knife in this manner.
| a 1613 Rowland Four Knaves (Percy Soc.) 31 Let falchion, polax, launce, or halbert try, With Flemings-knives either to steake or snye. 1635 H. Glapthorne Hollander i. i, It is our Countrie Custome onely to Stick or Snee. a 1704 T. Brown Wks. (1730) IV. 17 Let the dull-pated Boors Snic or snee at their Punch-Bowls, or slash for their Whores. 1704 D'Urfey Hell beyond Hell 55 Fish-wives whom rage does enflame To snick-or-snee at Rotterdam. |
b. As n. The practice of fighting with cut-and-thrust knives.
| 1670 in 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm. App. IV. 87 [They] fell upon him with knives (one was found afterwards of the Duch fashon, for their snick or snee). 1695 Dryden Parall. Poetry & Paint. Ess. (Ker) II. 132 The representation of a Dutch kermis, the brutal sport of snick-or-snee. a 1704 T. Brown Dial. Dead Wks. 1711 IV. 33 The noble Combats of Snick or Snee, or some illustrious Sea-fight. |
2. transf. Used to denote one or other of two possible alternatives or courses.
| 1675 Alsop Anti-Sozzo 324 Yet that is interpreting Scripture by the sound of words also; so that we are in a Fork, Snick or Snee; and both wayes equally undone. 1680 ― Mischief Imposit. viii. 75 The Question now is, Snick or Snee: Turn or Starve: Conform or Hang: Use the Cross or bear the Cross. [1681 Reply ‘Mischief of Imposit.’ 6 One would guess this man has an aking tooth to be at it again, though with snick or snee, as he calls it.] |