SMOUCH, smowch, _v.t._ to take advantage of, to chouse.
SMOUCHED, smowcht, _adj._ blotted, dirtied, smutched.
SMOULDER, sm[=o]l'd[.e]r, _v.i._ to burn slowly or without vent.--_adjs._ SMOUL'DRING, SMOUL'DRY. [M. E. _smolderen_--_smolder_=_smor-ther_, stifling smoke; cf. _Smother_.]
SMOUSE, SMOUS, smows, _n._ a peddler, a German Jew.
SMOUT, smowt, _n._ (_slang_) a printer who gets chance jobs in various offices.--_v.i._ to do occasional work.
SMUDGE, smuj, _n._ a spot, a stain: a choking smoke--_v.t._ to stifle: to fumigate with smoke.--_n._ SMUD'GER, one who smudges: a plumber.--_adj._ SMUD'GY, stained with smoke. [Scand., Sw. _smuts_, dirt, Dan. _smuds_, smut; Ger. _schmutz_.]
SMUG, smug, _adj._ neat, prim, spruce: affectedly smart: well satisfied with one's self.--_n._ a self-satisfied person.--_adj._ SMUG'-FACED, prim or precise-looking.--_adv._ SMUG'LY.--_n._ SMUG'NESS. [Dan. _smuk_, handsome; cf. Ger. _schmuck_, fine.]
SMUG, smug, _v.t._ to seize without ceremony, to confiscate: (_slang_) to hush up.
SMUGGLE, smug'l, _v.t._ to import or export without paying the legal duty: to convey secretly.--_ns._ SMUGG'LER, one who smuggles: a vessel used in smuggling; SMUGG'LING, defrauding the government of revenue by the evasion of custom-duties or excise-taxes. [Low Ger. _smuggeln_, cog. with Ger.
_schmuggeln_; Dut. _smuigen_, to eat secretly.]
SMUGGLE, smug'l, _v.t._ to fondle, cuddle.
SMUR, smur, _n._ (_Scot._) fine misty rain.--_v.i._ to drizzle.--_adj._ SMUR'RY.
SMUT, smut, _n._ a spot of dirt, soot, &c.: foul matter, as soot: _Bunt_, sometimes also _Dust-brand_, the popular name of certain small fungi which infest flowering land-plants, esp. the grasses, the name derived from the appearance of the spores, which are nearly black and very numerous: obscene language.--_v.t._ to soil with smut: to blacken or tarnish.--_v.i._ to gather smut: to be turned into smut:--_pr.p._ smut'ting; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ smut'ted.--_n._ SMUT'-BALL, a fungus of genus _Tilletia_: a puff-ball.--_adj._ SMUT'TIED, made smutty.--_adv._ SMUT'TILY.--_n._ SMUT'TINESS.--_adj._ SMUT'TY, stained with smut: affected with smut or mildew: obscene, filthy. [Scand., Sw. _smuts_; Ger. _schmutz_, prob. from root of _smite_.]
SMUTCH, smuch, _v.t._ to blacken, as with soot.--_n._ a dirty mark. [A form of _smut_.]
SMYRNIOT, -E, sm[.e]r'niot, -[=o]t, _n._ a native or inhabitant, of _Smyrna_.--_adj._ of or pertaining to Smyrna.
SMYTERIE, SMYTRIE, smit'ri, _n._ (_Scot._) a large number of individuals of small size.
SNABBLE, snab'l, _v.t._ (_prov._) to plunder: to kill.--_v.i._ to gobble up.
SNABBY, snab'i, _n._ (_Scot._) the chaffinch.
SNACK, snak, _n._ a share: a slight, hasty meal.--_v.t._ to snatch, to bite: to share. [A form of _snatch_.]
SNAFFLE, snaf'l, _n._ a bridle which crosses the nose and has a slender mouth-bit without branches.--_v.t._ to bridle: to clutch by the bridle.--_ns._ SNAFF'LE-BIT, a kind of slender bit; SNAFF'LING-LAY, the trade of highwayman. [Dut. _snavel_, the muzzle; cf. _Snap_.]
SNAG, snag, _n._ a sharp protuberance: a short branch: a projecting tooth or stump: a tree lying in the water so as to impede navigation--hence any stumbling-block or obstacle.--_v.t._ to catch on a snag: to entangle: to fill with snags, or to clear from such.--_n._ SNAG'BOAT, a steamboat with appliances for removing snags.--_adjs._ SNAG'GED, SNAG'GY, full of snags.
[Akin to Gael. and Ir. _snaigh_, to cut.]
SNAG, snag, _v.t._ to lop superfluous branches from a tree.--_n._ SNAG'GER, the tool for this.
SNAIL, sn[=a]l, _n._ a term for the species of terrestrial _Gasteropoda_ which have well-formed spiral shells--the more typical snails belonging to the genus _Helix_, of the family _Helicidae_, having the shell of many whorls, globose, depressed, or conical.--_ns._ SNAIL'-CLOV'ER, -TR[=E]'FOIL, a species of medic; SNAIL'-FISH, a fish of genus _Liparis_, sticking to rocks; SNAIL'-FLOW'ER, a twining bean.--_adjs._ SNAIL'-LIKE (_Shak._), in the manner of a snail, slowly; SNAIL'-PACED (_Shak._), as slow-moving as a snail; SNAIL'-SLOW, as slow as a snail.--_n._ SNAIL'-WHEEL, in some striking time-pieces, a rotating piece with a spiral periphery having notches so arranged as to determine the number of strokes made on the bell.--SNAIL'S PACE, a very slow pace. [A.S. _snegl_, _snaegl_; Ger. _schnecke_.]
SNAKE, sn[=a]k, _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 (_Hydrophidae_), the burrowing-snakes (_Typhlopidae_) 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 _snican_, to creep; Ice. _snak-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, snar, _v.i._ (_Spens._) to snarl.
SNARE, sn[=a]r, _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._ SN[=A]R'ER.--_adj._ SN[=A]R'Y. [A.S. _snear_; Dut. _snaar_.]
SNARL, snarl, _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, snarl, _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-[=I]'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.
[Illustration]
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_.]
SNATHE, sn[=a]th, _n._ the curved handle of a scythe. [A variant of _snead_.]
SNEAD, sn[=e]d, _n._ the handle of a scythe, a snathe. [A.S.
_sn['ae]d_--_snithan_, to cut.]
SNEAK, sn[=e]k, _v.i._ to creep or steal away privately or meanly: to behave meanly.--_v.t._ (_slang_) to steal.--_n._ a mean, servile fellow: a mean thief.--_ns._ SNEAK'-CUP (_Shak._), one who balks his glass: a cowardly, insidious scoundrel; SNEAK'ER.--_adj._ SNEAK'ING, mean, crouching: secret, underhand, not openly avowed.--_adv._ SNEAK'INGLY.--_ns._ SNEAK'INGNESS, SNEAK'INESS, the quality of being sneaking: meanness; SNEAKS'BY (_obs._), a sneak.--_adj._ SNEAK'Y, somewhat sneaking. [A.S. _snican_, to creep; Dan. _snige_. Cf. _Snake_.]
SNEAP, sn[=e]p, _v.t._ to check, to rebuke: to nip.--_n._ a check, a reprimand, taunt, sarcasm.--Also SNAPE.
SNEB, a form of _snib_, _snub_.
SNECK, snek, _n._ (_Scot._) the catch of a door or a lid.--_v.t._ to latch or shut a door.--_n._ SNECK'-DRAW'ER, one who lifts the latch for thievish ends, a mean thief.--_adjs._ SNECK'-DRAW'ING, SNECK'-DRAWN, crafty, cunning.--_interj._ SNECK-UP' (_Shak._), go hang! [Prob. _snack_, to catch.]
SNECK, snek, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to cut [_Snick_.]
SNEE, sn[=e], _n._ a large knife. [Dut. _snee_, _snede_, a slice; Ger.
_schneide_, edge.]
SNEER, sn[=e]r, _v.i._ to show contempt by the expression of the face, as by turning up the nose: to insinuate contempt.--_v.t._ to utter sneeringly.--_n._ an indirect expression of contempt.--_n._ SNEER'ER.--_adj._ SNEER'ING.--_adv._ SNEER'INGLY. [Scand., Dan. _snaerre_, to grin like a dog; cf. _Snarl_.]
SNEESHING, sn[=e]sh'ing, _n._ (_Scot._) snuff, or a pinch of snuff.
SNEEZE, sn[=e]z, _v.i._ to make a sudden and involuntary violent expiration, preceded by one or more inspirations, the fauces being generally closed so that the current of air is directed through the nose.--_n._ a sneezing.--_ns._ SNEEZE'WEED, any species of _Helenium_; SNEEZE'WOOD, the durable wood of a small South African tree whose sawdust causes sneezing: SNEEZE'WORT, the white hellebore: the _Achillea Ptarmica_; SNEEZ'ING.--NOT TO BE SNEEZED AT, not to be despised, of very considerable value or importance. [M. E. _snesen_, _fnesen_--A.S. _fneosan_, to sneeze; Dut. _fniezen_.]
SNELL, snel, _adj._ (_Scot._) keen, sharp, severe. [A.S. _snel_, _snell_, active; Ger. _schnell_, swift.]
SNIB, snib, _n._ (_Spens._) a check or reprimand. [_Snub_.]
SNIB, snib, _n._ (_Scot._) the bolt of a door.--_v.t._ to bolt.