Snake, snāk, n. a serpent—Snakes (Ophidia) form one of the classes of reptiles, in shape limbless and much elongated, embracing tree-snakes, the water-snakes, and the very venomous sea-snakes (Hydrophidæ), the burrowing-snakes (Typhlopidæ) and the majority, which may be called ground-snakes.—ns. Snake′-bird, a darter: the wryneck; Snake′-eel, a long Mediterranean eel, its tail without a tail-fin.—adj. Snake′-like (Tenn.), like a snake.—ns. Snake′-root, the popular name of various plants of different genera, whose roots are considered good for snake-bites; Snake's′-head, the guinea-hen flower; Snake′-stone, a small rounded piece of stone or other hard substance, popularly believed to be efficacious in curing snake-bites; Snake′-weed, the bistort; Snake′wood (same as Letter-wood).—adjs. Snak′ish, having the qualities of a snake: cunning, deceitful; Snak′y (Spens.), belonging to, or resembling, a serpent: (Milt.) cunning, deceitful: covered with, or having, serpents. [A.S. snaca, prob. from snícan, to creep; Ice. snák-r.]
Snap, snap, v.t. to break short or at once: to bite, or catch at suddenly: to crack: to interrupt sharply (often with up): to shut with a sharp sound: to take an instantaneous photograph of, esp. with a hand camera.—v.i. to break short: to try to bite: to utter sharp words (with at): to flash:—pr.p. snap′ping; pa.t. and pa.p. snapped.—n. act of snapping, or the noise made by it: a small catch or lock: a hasty repast, a snack: a crack, the spring-catch of a bracelet, &c., an earring: a crisp kind of gingerbread nut or cake: crispness, pithiness, epigrammatic point or force: vigour, energy: (slang) a brief theatrical engagement, an easy and profitable place or task: a sharper, a cheat: a riveter's tool, also a glass-moulder's tool: the act of taking a snapshot.—adj. sudden, unpremeditated, without preparation.—ns. Snap′dragon, a plant, so called because the lower lip of the corolla when parted shuts with a snap like a dragon's jaw: a Christmas pastime in which raisins are snatched out of a dish in which brandy is burning, in a room otherwise dark—also the raisins so taken; Snap′per; Snap′per-up (Shak.), one who snaps up; Snap′ping-tur′tle, a large fresh-water tortoise of the United States—from its habit of snapping at things.—adjs. Snap′pish, Snap′py, inclined to snap: eager to bite: sharp in reply.—adv. Snap′pishly, in a snappish manner: peevishly: tartly.—ns. Snap′pishness; Snap′shot, an instantaneous photograph. [Dut. snappen, to snap; Ger. schnappen.]
Snaphance, snaf′ans, n. a term originally applied to the spring-lock of a gun or pistol, but afterwards applied to the gun itself, a Dutch firelock of the 17th century: a snappish retort.—Also Snaph′aunce. [Dut. snaphaan—snappen, to snap, haan, a cock.]
Snar, snär, v.i. (Spens.) to snarl.
Snare, snār, n. a running noose of string or wire, &c., for catching an animal: a trap: that by which any one is entrapped: a cord, esp. that stretched across the lower head of a drum: a surgical instrument for removing tumours, &c., by an ever-tightening loop.—v.t. same as Ensnare (q.v.).—v.i. to use snares.—n. Snār′er.—adj. Snār′y. [A.S. snear; Dut. snaar.]
Snarl, snärl, v.i. to growl, as a surly dog: to speak in a surly manner.—v.t. to utter snarlingly.—n. a growl, a jealous quarrelsome utterance.—n. Snar′ler.—adjs. Snar′ling, growling, snappish; Snar′ly. [Prob. imit.; Low Ger. snarren, Ger. schnarren; conn. with Eng. snore.]
Snarl, snärl, v.t. to twist, entangle, confuse.—v.i. to become entangled.—n. a knot or any kind of complication: a squabble.—adj. Snarled, twisted.—ns. Snar′ling-ī′ron, -tool, a curved tool for snarling or fluting hollow metal-ware, &c.
Snash, shash, n. (Scot.) insolence, abusive language.—v.i. to talk impudently.
Snatch, snach, v.t. to seize quickly: to take without permission: to seize and carry away.—v.i. to try to seize hastily.—n. a hasty catching or seizing: a short time of exertion: a small piece or fragment: a catching of the voice: a hasty snack of food: a quibble.—ns. Snatch′-block, a kind of pulley-block, having an opening in the side to receive the bight of a rope; Snatch′er, one who snatches.—adv. Snatch′ingly.—adj. Snatch′y, irregular. [M. E. snacchen; cog. with Dut. snakken, Prov. Eng. sneck, a bolt; also conn. with snap.]