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 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.