▪ I. † snuffle
var. of (or error for) snaffle n.1
| 1589 R. Harvey Pl. Perc. 12 She will prepare a boisterous snuffle, for such boisterous head-strong Jaddes, as will be wincing. |
▪ II. snuffle, n.
(ˈsnʌf(ə)l)
[f. the vb.]
† 1. Surf or surge. Obs.—1
| 1630 Capt. Smith Trav. & Adv. 54 Such a snuffle of the Sea goeth on the shore, ten may better defend than fifty assault. |
2. An (or the) act of snuffling.
| a 1764 Lloyd Actor Poet. Wks. 1774 I. 16/3 With shrug, wink, snuffle, and convulsive limb. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas i. xii. ¶3 What is a prison above-ground, after so brimstone a snuffle as thou hast had of the regions below? 1835 Marryat J. Faithful iii, It was an intellectual nose... Its snuffle was consequential, and its sneeze oracular. 1865 Baring-Gould Werewolves viii. 126 She hears the tramping of his approaching feet, and the snuffle of his breath. |
3. pl. A stopped condition of the nose, through a cold in the head or otherwise, causing a snuffling sound in the act of respiration.
| 1770 Mrs. Delany Life & Corr. Ser. ii. (1861) I. 317 She has at present a little London cold, but her Grace says it is ‘only the snuffles’. 1799 M. Underwood Dis. Child. (ed. 4) III. 107 The slightest symptom..is that called the Snuffles, or stoppage of the nose. 1845 Dickens Chimes iv. 139 The nose afflicted with that disordered action of its functions which is generally termed the Snuffles. 1878 Bryant Pract. Surg. II. 6 The snuffles in infancy are very characteristic. |
4. A nasal tone in the voice.
| 1820 Scott Monast. v, With a hypocritical snuffle, and a sly twinkle of his eye. 1830 H. Lee Mem. Manager I. ii. 61 His spectacles..being rather too small for him..increased his natural snuffle. 1859 Jephson Brittany i. 3 The monotonous whine and snuffle of the children in the National School as they read. |
| Comb. 1889 Doyle M. Clarke 94 Half-a-dozen broad⁓brimmed snuffle-nosed preachers. |
▪ III. snuffle, v.
(ˈsnʌf(ə)l)
[prob. ad. Du. and Flem. snuffelen (also † snoffelen), = Fris. snuffelje, LG. snüffeln (whence G. schnüffeln, schnuffeln) in similar senses: see snuff v.2 and -le.]
I. intr.
† 1. To show dislike or disdain by snuffing; to sniff at a thing in contempt. Obs.
| 1583 Greene Mamillia Wks. (Grosart) II. 128 The young colt, at the first breaking, snuffles at the snaffle. 1600 Breton Strange Fort. Two Princes Wks. (Grosart) II. 12/2 The wicked wretch..in a great rage, snuffling at his cold entertainment. 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxv. iv. 268 Making a speech on a time to his souldiors all armed, when they snuffled and became unruly. 1662 R. Mathew Unl. Alch. 165, I know nice noses will snuffel at this Oyl as a thing most detestable. |
2. To draw air into the nostrils in order to smell something; to snuff or smell at a thing.
| c 1600 Chalkhill Thealma & Cl. (1683) 12 Their cry soon reacht his ear, And he came snuffling toward them. 1601 Weever Mirr. Mart. B iij b, I dream'd I wore a garland of greene willow. But snuffling low, I prickt me with a fether. 1825 Scott Talism. iii, The steeds..neighed and snuffled fondly around their masters. 1861 Hughes Tom Brown at Oxf. iii, [The dog] went trotting about the room, and snuffling at Schloss's legs. 1889 Rider Haggard Allan's Wife 278 The oxen..were very restless—they kept snuffling and blowing. |
3. To speak through the nose; to have a nasal twang.
Sometimes taken as indicating hypocrisy or canting.
| c 1600 Day Begg. Bednall Gr. iii. ii, There's an odde fellow snuffels i' the nose that shows a motion about Bishops⁓gate. 1634 T. Johnson tr. Parey's Chirurg. xxiii. iv. (1678) 526 They cannot pronounce their words distinctly, but obscurely and snuffling. 1755 Smollett Quix. ii. iii. viii, Would it not have been better..to cut off half their noses, even though they should snuffle in their speech? 1756 Connoisseur No. 126 ¶6 Snuffling through the nose with an harmonious twang. 1848 Thackeray Van. Fair xli, You would have thought it was the Countess's own Roman nose through which she snuffled. 1888 Doughty Arabia Deserta I. 154 He snuffled in his holy talk like an honest Roundhead. |
4. To draw up air or mucus through the nostrils in an audible or noisy manner.
| c 1600 Tarlton's Jests (1628) A 4, Who falling vpon his nose, broke it extremely, that euer after he snuffled in the head. 1611 Cotgr., Renifler, to snuffle, or snifter often. 1707 J. Stevens tr. Quevedo's Com. Wks. (1709) 435 He..was gaul'd and snuffled [Sp. con mataduras y muermo] because they had thrown Feathers into his Manger. 1835 Politeness & Gd.-breeding 53 Remember never to whisper, or snuffle and laugh. 1857 C. Brontë Professor vii, How he did snuffle, snort, and wheeze! 1898 Hutchinson's Arch. Surg. IX. 141 The child, a girl,..at the age of a month began to snuffle. |
† 5. Of the wind: To blow in fitful gusts. Obs.
| 1633 T. James Voy. 24 In the after-noone it began to snuffle and blow. 1781 Archer in Naval Chron. XI. 286 At eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a monstrous heavy appearance. |
II. trans.
6. To inhale, to clear, to search out or examine, by snuffing.
| 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 11/2 Mixe all these.., & snuffle heerof a little in your Nose in the Morninges. 1667 Denham Direct. Painter ii. 18 She shed no tears,..But onely snuffling her Trunk Cartilaginous, From scaling Ladder she began a story. 1871 B. Taylor Faust (1875) I. xxii. 199 He snuffles all he snuffle can; ‘He scents the Jesuits' traces’. |
7. To utter, say, declare, etc., in a snuffling or nasal tone.
| 1641 in Nalson Collect. Affairs State (1683) II. 809 Those That snuffle their unlearned Zeal in Prose. 1826 Scott Woodst. xxxiii, ‘I profess I do..,’ snuffled the corporal. 1837 Carlyle Misc. (1857) IV. 108 Even the old Marquis snuffles approval. 1865 ― Fredk. Gt. vii. vi. (1872) II. 321 Seckendorf..snuffled into him suggestions of mercy. 1892 Zangwill Childr. Ghetto I. 128 The scarecrow who shambled along snuffling ‘Old clo’. |
b. Similarly with out or forth.
| 1828 Cunningham N.S. Wales II. 205 On being questioned how he had existed, he snuffled out [etc.]. 1842 S. Lover Handy Andy iii, She..snuffled forth at the astonished boy, ‘Get out o' that, you dirty cur!’ 1891 Gosse Gossip Libr. iii. 33 A whining ballad snuffled out in the street at night by some unhappy minstrel. |