An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/schnauben

by Friedrich Kluge

schnauben, verb, ‘to snort,’ from Middle High German (Middle German) snûben, ‘to snore’; compare Dutch snuiven, ‘to snort.’ From the corresponding Dutch snûven is usually derived Modern High German schnaufeu, which, however, may come from Middle High German snûfen, ‘to snuff.’ The Teutonic root is snupp, snū̆f, snū̆b. Compare Schnupfen.