I. ˈsnəf noun
Etymology: Middle English snoffe
Date: 14th century
1. : the charred part of a candlewick
2.
a. obsolete : umbrage , offense
b. chiefly Scottish : huff
II. transitive verb
Date: 15th century
1. : to crop the snuff of (a candle) by pinching or by the use of snuffers so as to brighten the light
2.
a. : to extinguish by or as if by the use of a candlesnuffer — often used with out
b. : to make extinct : put an end to — usually used with out
snuff ed out their hopes
also : kill , execute
snuff ed the bad guys
•
- snuff it
III. adjective
Date: 1975
: characterized by the sensationalistic depiction of violence ; especially : featuring a real rather than a staged murder
snuff movies
IV. verb
Etymology: akin to Dutch snuffen to sniff, snuff — more at snivel
Date: 1527
transitive verb
1. : to draw forcibly through or into the nostrils
2. : scent , smell
3. : to sniff at in order to examine — used of an animal
intransitive verb
1. : to inhale through the nose noisily and forcibly ; also : to sniff or smell inquiringly
2. obsolete : to sniff loudly in or as if in disgust
3. : to take snuff
V. noun
Date: 1568
: the act of snuffing : sniff
VI. noun
Etymology: Dutch snuf, short for snuftabak, from snuffen to snuff + tabak tobacco
Date: 1650
1. : a preparation of pulverized tobacco to be inhaled through the nostrils, chewed, or placed against the gums
2. : the amount of snuff taken at one time
•
- up to snuff