snuff 1
— snuffingly , adv.
/snuf/ , v.t.
1. to draw in through the nose by inhaling.
2. to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.
3. to examine by smelling, as an animal does.
v.i.
4. to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle: After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.
5. to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.
6. Obs. to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often fol. by at ).
n.
7. an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.
8. smell, scent, or odor.
9. a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.
10. a pinch of such tobacco.
11. up to snuff , Informal.
a. Brit. not easily imposed upon; shrewd; sharp.
b. up to a certain standard; satisfactory: His performance wasn't up to snuff.
[ 1520-30; snuffen ]
snuff 2
/snuf/ , n.
1. the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.
2. a thing of little or no value, esp. if left over.
v.t.
3. to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).
4. snuff out ,
a. to extinguish: to snuff out a candle.
b. to suppress; crush: to snuff out opposition.
c. Informal. to kill or murder: Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.
[ 1350-1400; ME snoffe ]