▪ I. snapper, n.1
(ˈsnæpə(r))
[f. snap v. Cf. Fris., Du., LG. snapper, G. schnapper.]
† 1. Cant. ? An accomplice or sharer. (Cf. snap v. 3 a). Obs.
| 1532 Use of Dice Play (Percy Soc.) 29 This new nurtured novice..is become so good a scholar, that he knoweth readily his flats and barris, and hath been snapper with the old cole at 2 or 3 deep strokes. |
2. A thing which snaps or produces a sharp cracking sound: a. A pistol. rare.
| 1577–87 Harrison England ii. xvi. (1877) i. 283 The honest traueller is now inforced to ride with a case of dags.., or with some pretie short snapper, whereby he may deale with them further off in his owne defense. 1785 in Grose Dict. Vulgar Tongue. |
b. pl. Bones (see bone n. 5 b); castanets. ? Obs.
| 1605 Entert. of Earl Nottingham 18 Those six Ladies..danced a country dance with snappers on their thumbs. 1615 G. Sandys Trav. 172 The instruments [of music] no other than snappers, gingles, and round-bottomd drums. 1699 W. Dampier Voy. II. i. 84 They hold them both in the right hand..as our Boys do their Snappers. 1705 tr. Bosman's Guinea 268 Like two pieces of Wood stroke against each other, or a pair of Snappers. 1742 C. Owen Serpents iii. vi. 239 Whether this Custom be not the Original of Castanets or Snappers in Dancing. |
† c. pl. Prince Rupert's drops. Obs.—0
| 1788 Howard New Roy. Cycl. II. 1738. |
d. A cracker-bonbon.
| a 1845 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. iii. Wedding-day (1905) 428 Nasty French lucifer snappers with mottoes. 1980 Times 22 Dec. 12/8 People write to me of ‘snappers’ which are available at posh, probably preppy, parties in Boston, and which go pop like crackers. |
e. U.S. A cracker on the end of a whip-lash. Also fig., a sharp or caustic remark.
| 1817 J. Sansom Sk. Lower Canada 15 One had proposed to put a snapper on the driver's whip. 1841 Knickerbocker XVII. 277 All the whips were provided with red snappers. 1882 Pentecost Out of Egypt iii. 60 She brought out the last end of that question like the snapper on the end of a whip. 1890 O. W. Holmes Over the Teacups xii, If I had not put that snapper on the end of my whip-lash, I might have got off without the ill temper which my antithesis provoked. 1903 N.Y. Even. Post 29 Sept. 8/2 Senator Carmack..is simply adding a snapper to the lash of his vigorous denunciation of the whole Philippine policy. 1949 B. A. Botkin Treas. S. Folklore i. v. 117 Showing off his prowess..he first split a horsefly into pieces, and then tore a bumblebee into shreds with the snapper on the end of his whip. |
f. U.S. A word, sentence, verse, etc., used as a finishing touch or wind-up. Also attrib., as snapper ending.
| 1857 J. G. Holland Bay Path xiv, You'd 'a said twenty lashes, and she'd got 'em, and Mr. Moxon would 'a said twenty Amens on the end on 'em for a snapper. 1892 Child Pop. Ballads IV. 393/1 A copy..with the addition of one stanza for a ‘snapper’. 1895 ‘Mark Twain’ in Youth's Companion 3 Oct. 464/1 The..humorous story finishes with a nub, point, snapper, or whatever you like to call it. 1949 Newsweek 19 Dec. 13/3 Then came the snapper: ‘No matter by what method we achieve security, we'll not achieve it in a bankrupt economy.’ 1962 E. Lacy Freeloaders ix. 186 This is the end of the story. I hardly think I've been steering you towards a twist, or snapper ending. 1973 Publishers Weekly 10 Dec. 31/1 The second story is written as a correspondence between a clerk and an alien, and has an O. Henry snapper at the end. 1976 New Yorker 24 May 143/1 The first, a male ensemble with some very good martial-arts-style acrobatics, has a snapper ending that doesn't snap. |
g. pl. Teeth; a set of false teeth. slang.
| 1924 Wodehouse Leave it to Psmith i. 36 You see, this fellow understands my snappers. 1958 Listener 31 July 154/2 Do your snappers fit snugly? |
h. A sea-bed sampler that operates by enclosing material between two or more jaws that come together on contact with the bottom. Also snapper grab, snapper sampler.
| 1925 Proc. & Trans. R. Soc. Canada (Math., etc. Sciences) 3rd Ser. XIX. iv. 51 The ‘snapper’ is a simple and inexpensive instrument which has long been used in connection with submarine cable laying. 1942 H. U. Sverdrup et al. Oceans x. 344 Bottom samplers used for oceanographic work fall into three general categories: dredges (drag buckets), snappers, and coring tubes. Ibid. 345 Snapper samplers of the clamshell type have been widely used for obtaining samples of the superficial layers of the sediments. 1968 R. V. Tait Elements Marine Ecol. iii. 49 For larger samples, various small spring-loaded, snapper grabs have been devised which take a shallow bite out of the sea-floor. |
3. a. One who snaps up or seizes upon a thing quickly.
| 1611 Shakes. Wint. T. iv. iii. 26 My Father..was likewise a snapper-vp of vnconsidered trifles. 1823 Scott Quentin D. xxvi, The possibility of those erratic Countesses of Croye..falling into the hands of some wild snapper upon the frontiers. 1887 Jefferies Amaryllis x, From Berlin and Vienna come the eager snappers-up of much considered trifles. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 3 Mar. 11/1 The snapper-up of such things should glance at the Mexican Eastern Railway 5 per cent. debentures. |
b. U.S. Football. Also snapper-back = snap-back 1 a.
| 1887 in P. H. Davis Football (1911) 475 Rule 12 altered so as to prohibit interference with the snapper-back until the ball is in motion. 1920 W. Camp Football without Coach 30 That involves a great deal harder work from the center rush or snapper back in getting the ball back to him. 1961 J. S. Salak Dict. Amer. Sports 409 The snapper is the player who snaps the ball. 1974 Rules of Game 148/1 The snapper may not slide his hands along the ball before grasping it, nor move his feet or lift a hand until after a snap. |
4. a. A taker of snapshots; a casual photographer.
| 1910 Chambers's Jrnl. 13 Aug. 589/1 There is no relief in a protest, for the rampant ‘snapper’ knows that the law is on his side. 1921 Ibid. 30 July 546/1 He who was but a snapper, a presser of a button, and next became a photographic enthusiast. 1977 Ripped & Torn vi. 7/2 And thanks a lot to all you budding photographers for the offers of photos, just send 'em in you snappers. |
b. slang. A ticket inspector.
| 1938 F. D. Sharpe Sharpe of Flying Squad 333 A snapper, ticket inspector. 1957 ‘N. Culotta’ They're a Weird Mob (1958) x. 142 'E doesn't want yer ticket. The snapper's got yer ticket. |
5. A snappish person; one who speaks or answers snappishly or roughly.
| 1648 Hexham ii, Een Versnauwer, a Snapper, or a Taunter. 1847 Halliw., Snappers, waspish persons that answer crossly or peevishly. 1869 Blackmore Lorna D. li, What a nasty way you have of telling the very commonest piece of news!.. What man will ever fancy you, you unlucky little snapper? 1908 Daily Chron. 17 Aug. 5/7 We are told that though these mischief-makers, these snappers and snarlers, may be few, yet they are very influential. |
6. † a. Angling. A snap-hook or snap-rod. Obs.
| 1688 Holme Armoury iii. 103/1 A Snapper, or Snap Rod, is a strong Pole, peculiar for a Pike. Ibid. xvi. (Roxb.) 80/1 This is by some termed a cod fish hooke; but by Fishers and Anglers it is termed a Snapper, being made with a loop at the top. |
b. local. (See quot.)
| 1892 Longm. Mag. Nov. 83 Some of the men were armed with long wooden ‘snappers’, not unlike blacksmith's tongs,..thickly set with wire points or projecting nails,..and with these cruel implements they struck at and secured the stupefied fish [= eels]. |
7. a. One or other of various fishes, esp. the West Indian Lutjanus Blackfordii or L. vivanus or other fish of this group, the N. American rose-fish, Sebastes marinus, and the Australian Pagrus unicolor (see quots. and b). Cf. schnapper.
| 1697 W. Dampier Voy. (1699) 88 Fish, particularly Snappers and Rock-fish, are..plentiful. Ibid. 91 The Snapper is a Fish much like a Roach, but a great deal bigger,..the back is of a bright red. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 114 Silver Fish, Snappers, Bonito's and very large Craw-fish. 1772–84 Cook's Voy. (1790) IV. 1370 There are also snappers, parrot⁓fish, and a brown spotted rock-fish. a 1818 M. G. Lewis Jrnl. W. Ind. (1834) 104 Nothing can be less tempting than the sounds of Jew-fish, hog-fish, mud-fish, snappers,..and grunts. 1840 F. D. Bennett Whaling Voy. I. 23 They were chiefly of the kinds known as ‘rock-cod’, ‘snappers’, or gilt-heads. 1842 W. R. Wade Journey in Northern Island N.Z. vii. 180 Some snappers which the lads had caught furnished us with a hearty supper. 1888 Goode Amer. Fishes 73 The Snappers and Grunts are among the most highly colored of the tropical fishes. 1896 [see nannygai]. 1959 A. McLintock Descr. Atlas N.Z. 48 Snapper..is the most important species in the commercial catch. 1977 Best of Austral. Angler 9/1 The floating gar system used for tailor is also one of the very best ways to catch snapper from the rocks. |
| attrib. and Comb. 1884 Goode Nat. Hist. Aquat. Anim. 395 The Snapper Family—Pristipomatidæ. 1888 ― Amer. Fishes 76 Snapper-fishing is usually carried on with a bottom bait. Ibid., A trip to the Snapper banks is a favorite summer recreation. |
b. With distinctive epithets, as alligator snapper, bastard snapper, black snapper, brown snapper, grey snapper, etc. red snapper: see red a. 17 c.
Many different species are mentioned by Goode Fishes Bermudas (1876), Nat. Hist. Aquatic Anim. (1884), and American Fishes (1888).
| 1775 Romans Hist. Florida App. 52 The fish caught here..are such as..red, grey and black snappers, dog snappers, mutton-fish. 1822–27 Good Study Med. (1829) I. 241 Fishes of a few other kinds, as..gray-snapper (coracinus fuscus major). 1827 O. W. Roberts Voy. Centr. Amer. 34 They..soon caught plenty of groupers, red and silver snappers. 1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle xv. (1859) 365 A red snapper for all the world like a gigantic gold fish was hauled on board. 1885 C. F. Holder Marvels Anim. Life 176 Snappers, red and brown. |
c. A snapping-turtle.
| 1796 [see mud-turtle s.v. mud n.1 5 b]. 1872 Schele de Vere Americanisms 388 The Snapping Turtle.., also called simply Snapper, is a ferocious kind, snapping at everything, and inflicting a painful bite. c 1880 Cassell's Nat. Hist. IV. 255 One of these aquatic Emydes..preys upon small fish, and is called Temminck's Snapper. 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 458 The family of Chelydridæ includes freshwater tortoises, which are known under the names of Snappers or Alligator Terrapins. |
d. A woodpecker (Halliwell, 1847).
e. U.S. A flysnapper (Cent. Dict. 1891).
8. dial. Something exceptionally large, heavy, etc.
| 1874 T. Hardy Far from Madding Crowd xv, We get a fine day, and then down comes a snapper [of rain] at night. 1902 Ardrossan Herald 3 Jan. 4 That's a snapper o' an orange they've gi'en ye. |
9. dial. a. The greater stitchwort, Stellaria Holostea. b. The bladder campion, Silene inflata.
| 1882 in Friend Gloss. Dev. Plant-n. 1886 in Britten & Holland. |
▪ II. ˈsnapper, n.2 Sc.
[f. snapper v.1]
A stumble or trip. Freq. fig., a slip in conduct; a fault or error; a scrape or difficulty.
| a 1572 Knox Hist. Ref. Wks. 1846 I. 79 Forresse war runne upon the day to Smallame..and such place nere about, but many snapparis thei gate. 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 340 This king dies..throuch the vehement snapper of a Wantount horse. 1629 Z. Boyd Last Battell 190, I am not like these sinners which but trip and stumble, and rise again after a snapper. 17.. Ramsay Epil. to ‘The Drummer’ 8 Men of sense will kindly praise us, And, if we make a little snapper, raise us. a 1732 Boston Crook in Lot (1805) 164 They were only so [over-rash] in applying the time to the promise; a snapper that saints in all ages have made. 1818 Scott Hrt. Midl. xx, Advocate Langtale has brought folk through waur snappers than a' this. |
▪ III. ˈsnapper, a. Sc.
Also 9 snappert.
[app. f. snap v.]
Sharp, snappish.
| 1673–4 Earl Kincardin in Lauderdale P. (Camden) III. 30 The K. gave him a snapper ansuer. 1808 Jamieson s.v., A snappert answer. |
▪ IV. snapper, v.1 Chiefly (and now only) north. and Sc.
(ˈsnæpə(r))
Forms: 4–5 snaper (-ere, 5 -ir, 6 -yr), 5 snap(p)re, 6 snappar (Sc. -ir), 5– snapper.
[app. a frequentative from a stem *snap, corresponding to older and dial. G. schnappen to stumble, to limp, related to MHG. snaben, MLG. snaven, whence MDa. snave, MSw. snava (Sw. snafva), Norw. snaava, to stumble, Icel. snáfa to sneak, slink.]
1. intr. To stumble or trip. † Also, to fall through stumbling.
| 13.. Metr. Hom. (MS. Ashm. 42) fol. 70 b, Full radde he was to snapir rathe, To drowne him & his childir bathe. a 1352 Minot Poems (Hall) x. 16 Wight men of þe west neghed þam nerr, And gert þam snaper in þe snare. c 1400 26 Pol. Poems iv. 90 Many can stomble at a stre; Þey nyl not snapere at a style. c 1425 Thomas of Erceld. 381 Stedes shall snapre throwght tresoun. 1530 Palsgr. 723/2 My horse dyd nat stumble, he dyd but snapper a lytell. 1597 Skene De Verb. Sign. s.v. Cathorius, Quhen ane horse..snappers of fallis with his maister. 1607 Markham Caval. ii. 134 Or els setting downe his feete vncertainly [he does] both often stumble and snapper. 1650 Reg. Privy Counc. Scot. VIII. 233 He snappered and lighted upon ane cart wheele. 1737 Bracken Farriery Impr. (1756) I. 349 He will not..be so apt to snapper and stumble. 1816 Scott Bl. Dwarf x, Wouldst thou snapper now and break my neck? 1871 W. Alexander J. Gibb (1873) 226 Only Samie's shaltie snappert. |
| Prov. 1641 Fergusson Scot. Prov. No. 105, A horse may snapper on foure feet. 1721 Kelly Prov. 26 A Horse with four Feet may snapper, by a time. |
2. fig. or transf. To stumble or make a slip in action or conduct; to fall into error.
| c 1380 Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 367 Mannis affecciouns..shulde stonde stalworþly, lest þe soule snaperide aftir. 1388 ― Jer. xviii. 15 My puple hath forȝete me..and snaperiden in her weies. a 1500 in Ratis Raving 23 The foly of the ful garis hyme snapyr. a 1529 Skelton Replyc. Wks. 1843 I. 217 Count ye your selfe good clerkes, And snapper in suche werkes? 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) I. 227 He appeiret to snapper, anent the celebratione of the Pasche day.., at quilke stane snappired lykwyse Bischope Aidane. 1731 Reasons for Presbyterians dissenting 101 He hath miserably snapper'd upon Hazael for a pattern. 1794 Burns ‘Contented wi' little’ iv, Blind Chance, let her snapper and stoyte on her way. |
Hence ˈsnappering ppl. a.
| 1596 Dalrymple tr. Leslie's Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.) II. 319 To bring..tua bald snapring horsses [L. summæ pernicitatis equos] for the flicht. |
▪ V. ˈsnapper, v.2 rare. Now dial.
[A frequentative of snap v. Cf. MLG. snapperen, G. schnappern, to chatter.]
1. intr. ? To snap the beak.
| 1664 H. More Myst. Iniq. 333 This Image was made to snapper and chatter something like that Bird [the magpie]. |
2. To snap or crackle; to give out a sharp snapping sound.
| 1852–88 in Berkshire glossaries. |