snuff

• POS: Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

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 happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup."  [1913 Webster]

snuff, v. t. [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 snuffing.

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.].

•  To draw in, or to inhale, forcibly through the nose; to sniff.  [1913 Webster]

  "He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite."  [1913 Webster]
•  To perceive by the nose; to scent; to smell.  [1913 Webster]

snuff, v. i. 

•  To inhale air through the nose with violence or with noise, as do dogs and horses.  Dryden.  [1913 Webster]
•  To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense.  [1913 Webster]

  "Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff?"  [1913 Webster]

snuff, n. 

•  The act of snuffing; perception by snuffing; a sniff.  [1913 Webster]
•  Pulverized tobacco, etc., prepared to be taken into the nose; also, the amount taken at once.  [1913 Webster]
•  Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed by a snuffing of the nose.  [1913 Webster]

Snuff dipping. See Dipping, n., 5. -- Snuff taker, one who uses snuff by inhaling it through the nose. -- To take it in snuff, to be angry or offended. Shak. -- Up to snuff, not likely to be imposed upon; knowing; acute. [Slang]<-- also, competent, able to do [the task] -->

OXFORD DICTIONARY

snuff, n. & v.
--n. the charred part of a candle-wick.
--v.tr. trim the snuff from (a candle).

Idiom

snuff it Brit. sl. die. snuff out
1 extinguish by snuffing.
2 kill; put an end to.

snuff, n. & v.
--n. powdered tobacco or medicine taken by sniffing it up the nostrils.
--v.intr. take snuff.

Idiom

snuff-coloured dark yellowish-brown. up to snuff colloq.
1 Brit. knowing; not easily deceived.
2 up to standard.

Etymology

Du. snuf (tabak tobacco) f. MDu. snuffen snuffle

THESAURUS

snuff

Aqua-Lung, artificial respiration, aspirate, aspiration, assibilate, assibilation, asthmatic wheeze, blow, blow out, breath, breath of air, breathe, breathe hard, breathe in, breathe out, breathing, broken wind, buzz, choke, cough, damp, douse, draw in, dudgeon, effervesce, effervescence, effervescing, exhalation, exhale, exhaust, expel, expiration, expire, exsufflation, extinguish, fizz, fizzle, fizzling, frication, frictional rustling, gasp, gulp, hack, hiccup, hiss, hissing, huff, hush, hushing, inhalation, inhalator, inhale, inhalement, inspiration, inspire, insufflation, iron lung, lisp, miff, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, nose, out, oxygen mask, oxygen tent, pant, pinch of snuff, pique, puff, put out, quench, rappee, resentment, respiration, respire, rhonchus, scent, scuba, shush, shushing, sibilance, sibilate, sibilation, siffle, sigh, sigmatism, siss, sissing, sizz, sizzle, sizzling, slack, slurp, smell, smell of, smother, sneeze, sneezing, sniff, sniffle, snoose, snore, snoring, snort, snuff bottle, snuff in, snuff mill, snuff out, snuffbox, snuffle, spit, splutter, sputter, squash, squelch, squish, stamp out, sternutation, stertor, stifle, suck, suck in, sucking, suckle, suction, suspiration, swish, umbrage, wheeze, whiff, whish, whistle, whistling, white noise, whiz, whoosh, wind, zip

ROGET THESAURUS

snuff

Wind

VB blow, waft, blow hard, blow great guns, blow a hurricane, wuther, stream, issue, respire, breathe, puff, whiff, whiffle, gasp, wheeze, snuff, snuffle, sniff, sniffle, sneeze, cough, fan, ventilate, inflate, perflate, blow up.

Insulation

VB go out, die out, burn out, fizzle, extinguish, damp, slack, quench, smother, put out, stamp out, douse, snuff, snuff out, blow out, fireproof, flameproof.

Pungency

N pungency, piquance, piquancy, poignancy haut-gout, strong taste, twang, race, sharpness, acrimony, roughness, unsavoriness, mustard, cayenne, caviare, seasoning, niter, saltpeter, brine (saltiness), carbonate of ammonia, sal ammoniac, sal volatile, smelling salts, hartshorn (acridity), dram, cordial, nip, nicotine, tobacco, snuff, quid, smoke, segar, cigar, cigarette, weed, fragrant weed, Indian weed, Cavendish, fid, negro head, old soldier, rappee, stogy, pungent, strong, high-, full-flavored, high-tasted, high-seasoned, gamy, sharp, stinging, rough, piquant, racy, biting, mordant, spicy, seasoned, hot, hot as pepper, peppery, vellicating, escharotic, meracious, acrid, acrimonious, bitter, rough, unsavory.

Odor

VB have an odor, smell, smell of, smell strong of, exhale, give out a smell, reek, reek of, scent, smell, scent, snuff, snuff up, sniff, nose, inhale.