snoose Western N. Amer.
(snuːs, snuːz)
Also schnoose, snooze.
[ad. Da., Norw., and Sw. snus snuff, shortening of Da., Sw. snustobak, Norw. snustobakk snuff tobacco; cf. snush n.]
Chewing snuff, esp. taken by loggers. Also fig.
| 1912 H. Footner New Rivers of North 21 Loud were the lamentations of his foreigners when his ‘snooze’ gave out, ‘snooze’ being the local familiarity for snuff. 1925 Amer. Speech I. 138/1 He ‘fogs-up’ on his pipe, or takes a ‘rear of snoose’. ‘Snoose’ is a certain brand of Swedish snuff; it is moist and hot with pepper, and the man who is not used to it will find his gums burning and his head swimming when he tries his first ‘rear’; but nearly every logger in this neck of the woods [sc. Northwest] has abandoned the old-time American plug for this terrific Nordic concoction. 1942 Ibid. XXVII. 221/2 Give her snoose, an order to increase power. 1955 R. Hobson Nothing too Good xiii. 136 Larkie was a snoose chewer. 1965 Sun (Vancouver) 22 Apr. 51/7 (caption) Just before ya face the old lady ya shove a wad of schnoose in yer mouth..she'll never smell yer breath. 1977 J. Hodgins Invention of World i. 5 He spat snoose out the broken window onto the pavement. |