snuff

snuff
\ \ English has three words snuff, all probably going back ultimately to a prehistoric Germanic base *snuf-, imitative of the sound of drawing air noisily in through the nose. Snuffpowdered tobacco for inhaling’ [17] was borrowed from Dutch snuf. This was probably short for snuftabak, etymologically ‘sniff-tobacco’, which in turn was derived from Middle Dutch snuffensniff, snuffle’, source of English snuffsniff’ [16]. That base *snuf- also produced English snuffle [16], probably borrowed from Low German or Dutch snuffelen, and snivel [14], which may go back to an unrecorded Old English *snyflan; and sniff [14], if not directly related, was certainly similarly inspired by the sound of sniffing. Snuffput out a candle’ was derived in the 15th century from the noun snuffburnt candlewick’ [14]. The origins of this are not known, but the fact that the now obsolete verb snot was once used for ‘put out a candle’ as well as ‘blow one’s nose’ suggests that this snuff too may ultimately have connections with the inner workings of the nose (possibly a perceived resemblance between an extinguished candlewick and a piece of nasal mucus), and with the base *snuf-. Snuff itdie’ is first recorded in the late 19th century.
\ \ Cf.SNIVEL

Word origins - 2ed. . 2005.

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  • Snuff — Snuff, initialement appelé Slaughter, est un film gore américain, réalisé en 1976 par Michael et Roberta Findlay. Filmé en Amérique du Sud, le film dépeint les exactions d un culte d adeptes de Charles Manson et se termine par le meurtre d une… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • snuff´i|ly — snuff|y «SNUHF ee», adjective, snuff|i|er, snuff|i|est. 1. like snuff. 2. soiled or stained with snuff. 3. having the habit of using snuff …   Useful english dictionary

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  • Snuff — Snuff, n. 1. The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff. [1913 Webster] 2. Pulverized tobacco, etc., prepared to be taken into the nose; also, the amount taken at once. [1913 Webster] 3. Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Snuff — Snuff, n. [Cf. G. schnuppe candle snuff, schnuppen to snuff a candle (see {Snuff}, v. t., to snuff a candle), or cf. {Snub}, v. t.] The part of a candle wick charred by the flame, whether burning or not. [1913 Webster] If the burning snuff… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Snuff — Snuff, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Snuffed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Snuffing}.] [OE. snuffen. See {Snuff} of a candle {Snuff} to sniff.] To crop the snuff of, as a candle; to take off the end of the snuff of. [1913 Webster] {To snuff out}, to extinguish by… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Snuff — ist ein englischer Begriff für Schnupftabak die Kurzform von Snuff Film oder Video der englische Name für den argentinischen Film El Ángel de la muerte der auf englisch Snuff hieß und als Begründer des Snuff Genre zählt. Siehe dazu auch: Big… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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  • snuff — Ⅰ. snuff [1] ► VERB 1) extinguish (a candle). 2) (snuff out) abruptly put an end to. 3) (snuff it) Brit. informal die. ► NOUN ▪ the charred part of a candle wick …   English terms dictionary

  • Snuff — Snuff, v. t.[Akin to D. snuffen, G. schnupfen, schnuppen, to snuff, schnupfen a cold in the head, schnuppen to snuff (air), also, to snuff (a candle). Cf. {Sniff}, {Snout}, {Snub}, v. i.] 1. To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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