▪ I. snark, n.
(snɑːk)
[Invented by ‘Lewis Carroll’ (C. L. Dodgson) in The Hunting of the Snark (1876).]
An imaginary animal. Also Comb.
| 1879 Temple Bar Nov. 391 Hunting for snarkes is a very pleasant occupation, if you do but make-believe strong enough. 1888 Lees & Clutterbuck B.C. 1887 xxvi. (1892) 297 There is quite a Snark-hunting ring about it. 1895 K. Grahame Golden Age 90 Some sinuous and snarklike conflict on the mat. |
▪ II. snark, v. dial.
(snɑːk)
[Corresponds to MLG. and LG. snarken (NFris. snarke, Sw. and Norw. snarka), MHG. snarchen (G. schnarchen, † schnarken), of imitative origin: cf. snork v.]
1. intr. To snore; to snort.
| 1866 N. & Q. 3rd Ser. X. 248/1, I will not quite compare it [a sound] to a certain kind of snarking or gnashing. 1907 Westm. Gaz. 9 Nov. 4/1 All of a sudden she (the mare, I suppose he meant) snarked an' begun to turn round. |
2. intr. and trans. To find fault (with), to nag.
| 1882 Jamieson's Sc. Dict. IV. 314/2 To Snark,..to fret, grumble, or find fault with one. 1904 E. Nesbit Phœnix & Carpet x. 185 He remembered how Anthea had refrained from snarking him about tearing the carpet. |