1888. Nineteenth Century, xxiii. 252. The previous assent of the Chair to the motion for closure would prevent snap-divisions.
1889-90. St. Nicholas, xvii. 1034. A painter . . . hit upon the plan of using a hand camera with which he followed the babies about snapping them in their best positions.
1896. Lillard, Poker Stories, 130. My . . . friend had brought him along as a snap . . . I supposed of course that he was all right, or his friend would not have invited him in the game.
Phrases.—To snap the glaze = 'to smash shop windows' (Grose); to snap the eye = to wink; on the snap = on the look out, on the mouch (q.v.).
Snapped, adj. (American).—1.
Drunk: see Screwed.
1844. Major Jones's Courtship, 102. He got snapt on egg-nog.
2. (old).—'Taken, caught' (B. E.).
Snapper, subs. (old).—1. A pistol
(Grose). Also (2) = a castanet;
and (3) = a cracker bonbon.
1587. Harrison, Desc. of England [Oliphant, New Eng., ii. 2. Amongst the new substantives are snapper (pistol) butt-end . . .].
1615. Sandys, Travels, 172. Their musicke is answerable; the instruments no other than snappers, gingles, and round bottomed drums.
1837. Barham, Ingolds. Leg., 'Wedding-day.' And nasty French lucifer snappers with mottoes.
4. (American).—A braggart: also snapperhead.
The Snappers, subs. phr. (military).—The East Yorkshire Regiment, formerly The 15th Foot. Also "The Poona Guards."
Snappish, adj. (B. E.).—'Peevish,
quarrelsome (a Man); apt to Bite
(a Dog).'
Snap-shot. See Snap.
Snarler, subs. (common).—A
dog.
Snatch, subs. (old).—1. A
shuffling answer; an evasive
reply.
1603. Shakspeare, Meas. for Meas., iv. 2, 6. Come, sir, leave me your snatches, and yield me a direct answer.
2. (old).—A hasty meal; a snack (q.v.) : also snatch and away.
1573. Tusser, Husbandrie, 168. A snatch and to worke, fellowes tarrie not here.
1585. Nomenclator. Prandium statarium . . . Manger debout ou en pied. A standing dinner, which is eaten in haste; a snatch and away.
1623. Massinger, Duke of Milan, iii. 2. I fear you'll have cold entertainment . . . 'twere discretion to take a snatch by the way.
3. (venery).—A hasty act of kind; a flyer (q.v.).
1621. Burton, Anat. of Melan., III. 11. v. 3. They had rather go to the stews, or have now and then a snatch as they can come by it, borrow of their neighbours, than have wives of their own. Ibid. I could not abide marriage, but as a rambler I took a snatch when I could get it.
In (or by) snatches, phr. (colloquial).—By fits and starts; spasmodically: also snatchy.
1573-9. Harvey, Letters (Camden Soc.), 178. I purpose to heare M. Doctor Bing and "get" gleane as mutch as I can bi snatches.
1865. Dickens, Mutual Friend, ii. 4. Transactions of business . . . at untimely hours . . . and in rushes and snatches.
1883. Cambridge Sketches, 16. The modern style seems short and snatchy; it has not the long majestic sweep of former days.
Snatch-blatch, subs. phr. (venery).—The
female pudendum:
see Monosyllable.
