in dudgeon; to give snuff = to reprimand, to rebuke, to scold; snuffy = (1) offended, and (2) = drunk (Bee); as subs. snuff = a pet (q.v.).—(Grose).
1584. Robinson, Pleasant Delights [Arber], 35. Huffing and snuffing deserveth blame.
1593. Hollyband, Dict. To spite, to anger, to take a matter in snuffe.
1598. Shakspeare, 1 Hen. IV., i. 3, 41. Who therewith angry, when it next came there, Took it in snuff.
1601. Jonson, Poetaster, ii. 1. I take it highly in snuff to learn how to entertain gentlefolks of you, at these years, i' faith. Ibid. (1609), Silent Woman, iv. 2. He went away in snuff.
1611. Bible, Authorised Ver., Mal. i. 13. Ye said, what a weariness is it, and ye have snuffed at it.
1625. Hall, Thanksgiving Sermon, 29 Jan. Do the enemies of the church rage, and snuff, and breathe nothing but threats and death?
16[?]. Rox. Ballads [B. M., C20, f. 8, 407], 'The Scolding Wife.' They was not so soon out of the Quire, ee'r She began to snuff.
c.1630. Taylor, Laugh and be Fat, 69. No man's lines but mine you take in snuff.
1688. Cap of Gray Hairs, &c., 113. If in snuff and distaste you may fling away from such re infecta, a little patience and good words may do your business.
d.17O4. L'Estrange, Works [Century]. Jupiter took snuff at the contempt, and punished him.
1891. Harry Fludyer, 30. He rather gave me snuff about my extravagance, but I was prepared for that.
Phrases.—Up to snuff = not to be deceived, wideawake (q.v.), knowing (q.v.); to snuff out = to silence, settle, annihilate; to snuff it = to die: see Aloft. See Sneeze-lurk.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Up to snuff. Synonymous with the above phrase ['Up to slum']; and is often rendered more emphatic by such adjuncts as 'Up to snuff and twopenny,' 'Up to snuff, and a pinch above it.'
1811. Poole, Hamlet Travestie. He knew well enough The game we're after: zooks, he's up to snuff.
1823. Byron, Don Juan, xi. 60. 'Tis strange the mind, that fiery particle, Should let itself be snuff'd out by an article.
1830. Moncrieff, The Heart of London, ii. 1. I nose: up to snuff.
1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Leg., i. 295. Lady A., who is now what some call up to snuff.
1837. Dickens, Pickwick. He was one too many for you warn't he? Up to snuff, and a pinch or two over.
1838. Beckett, Paradise Lost, 39. And being up to snuff in this, He turns his bottom, and says "kiss."
1876. Hindley, Cheap Jack. Having travelled all my lifetime, was better up to snuff than an ordinary man would be at fifty.
1885. Sims, Rogues and Vagabonds. Josh Heckett isn't going to snuff it just for a crack on the head.
1887. D. Teleg., 15 Feb. They will be snuffed out; nobody will listen to them before seven, or after nine.
1891. Newman, Scamping Trickz, 120. Now it is only fair to say the assistant knew his book, and was up to snuff.
Snuffle, subs. (B. E. and Grose).—In
pl. = a cold in the head: as
verb. = to speak gruffly or through
the nose.
1789. D'Arblay, Diary, iii. 180. First the Queen deserts us; then Princess Royal begins coughing; then Princess Augusta gets the snuffles.
Snuffler, subs. (common).—A
preacher. Hence snuffling =
canting.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxford, xliv. You know I never was a snuffler; but this sort of life makes one serious, if one has any reverence at all in one.
Snuffy, adj. (common).—Tipsy:
see Screwed (Grose).
Snug, verb. (venery).—To copulate:
see Ride.
