sneck-drawer Now Sc. and north.
Also 9 snick-.
[f. sneck n.1 + drawer n.1: cf. latch-drawer and draw-latch.]
One who draws or lifts a sneck or latch (in order to enter stealthily); a crafty, flattering, or sly fellow (cf. quot. 1808).
| 1402 Pol. Poems (Rolls) II. 98 Ȝoure prowde losengerie that rune abowt as snek-drawers. 1806 R. Jamieson Pop. Ballads I. 295 Whan the tittlin ald snick-drawers fell to. 1808 Jamieson s.v., An auld sneck-drawer, one who, from long experience, has acquired a great degree of facility in accomplishing any artful purpose. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xiii, Doited idiot!—that auld clavering sneck-drawer wad gar ye trow the moon is made of green cheese. 1846 Chalmers in Hanna Mem. (1852) IV. xxiv. 457 He was just too much of a sneck-drawer. |
So
ˈsneck-draw; also
sneck-drawing vbl. n. and ppl. a.,
sneck-drawn a.| 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped xvi, There's many a lying *sneck-draw sits close in kirk. 1894 Crockett Raiders xxxi, I ken the Maxwell lads and I ken the hill sneck⁓draws. |
| 1785–6 Burns Addr. to Deil xvi, Ye auld, *snick⁓drawing dog! 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxi, The old sneck-drawing whigamore her father. c 1830 Hogg Bridal of Polmood vii, Onye sikkan wylld sneckdrawinge and pawkerye. |
| 1820 T. Wilson Pitman's Pay i. liii, If aw din't her bottle fill, Aw's then a skint-flint, *sneck-drawn dog. |