Page:Farmer - Slang and its analogues past and present - Volume 6.pdf/283

 Snickle, verb. (thieves').—To inform; to peach (q.v.).

1859. Matsell, Vocabulum. If the cove should be caught in the hock [imprisoned] he won't snickle.

Snicktog, verb. (thieves').—To go shares.

Snide (or Snid), subs. (Scots').—1. Sixpence: see Rhino.

2. (common).—Anything mean or spurious: as a contemptible wretch, counterfeit coin, &c. As adj. (also sniddy or snidey) = bad, wretched, contemptible, or (army) dirty. Snide-pitching (see quot. 1868).

1868. Temple Bar, xxxiv. 538. Snyde-pitching is passing bad money, and it is a capital racket.

1876. A. Mursell, Shady Pastorals. Sometimes the police will help the thieves by getting snide witnesses who will swear anything according to instructions.

1887. Henley, Villon's Straight Tip. Or pitch a snide, or knap a yack.

1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. These 'ere men don't want none of your snide outfits, but just good bronchos and a waggon, and strong harness.

1891. Carew, Auto. of a Gipsey, 416. When I put the hacid on it hevery bloomin' hounce was snide. Ibid., 418. Nat said, 'S'trewth when Griffin seen the plate turn up agen, like a snide midgie, his face were a picter.'

1897. Marshall, Pomes, 50. The snide 'uns in the race of life don't always canter in. Ibid., 89. His pockets she tried, Which is wifely, though snide.

1900. Flynt, Tramps, 277. "Utica," he said, "if you intend gettin' your breakfast there in the morning, is a sort of a snide place this time of the year."

Sniffy, adj. (American).—Disdainful.

Snifter, subs. (common).—1. A long-drawn breath.

2. (common).—A dram; a go (q.v.)

3. (American).—A blizzard.

Snifty, adj. (American).—Pleasant smelling.

Snigger (or Snicker), verb. (B. E. and Grose).—'To laugh privately or in one's sleeve'; 'ill suppressed laughter' (Bee).

Snilch |sic.], verb. (Old Cant).—To see; to watch closely (B. E. and Grose).

Snip, subs. (old).—1. A share; a piece; a snack (q.v.). To go snips = to share. Hence 2, (racing) = a good tip. Also snippet = a small piece; snippy (or snippety) = fragmentary, absurdly small.

1621. Sylvester, Du Bartas, ii. Her lips two snips of crimson Sattin are.

c.1640. Butler, Nye's Beard. For some have doubted if [the beard] 'twere made of snips Of sables, glew'd and fitted to the lips.

1668. Dryden, Ev Evenings (abbrev.?)] Love, v. Pray, sir, let me go snip with you in this lye.

d.1704. Lestrange, Works [Century]. The snip that he expected on the dividend.

1725. Bailey, Erasmus, ii. 5. The Gamester promises I shall go snips with him in what he shall win.

1809. Malkin, Gil Blas (1812), vii. xii. Let me know what is the business, and I promise you shall get some snips out of the minister.

1880. Ch. Times, 9 Ap. Variety is pleasant, snippetiness is not.

1884. Sat. Rev., 12 Jan., 62. If the editor had confined himself to one period he might have made a useful book he has produced a collection of snippets.

1886-96. Marshall, 'Pomes' ['The Age of Love'], 26. He's the winner right enough! It's the one sole snip of a life-*time—simply the cop of one's puff.

3. (common).—A tailor: also snipper, snip-cabbage, and sniplouse (Bee). Cf. snipperado, quot. 1605, snipes = scissors (Vaux). See Trades.