I. ˈsnivəl verb
( sniveled or snivelled ; sniveled or snivelled ; sniveling or snivelling -v(ə)liŋ ; snivels )
Etymology: Middle English snivelen, snevelen, from (assumed) Old English snyflan (whence snyflung sniveling); akin to Old English snofl phlegm, mucus, Dutch snuffelen to nose about, snuffle, Middle Dutch snof head cold, Middle High German snupfe head cold, snūfen, snūben to snort, Old Norse snoppa snout, Greek nan to flow — more at nourish
intransitive verb
1. : to run at the nose
played with their noses snivel i ing because it was so early in the morning — John Paris
2. : to snuff mucus up the nose audibly : snuffle
3. : to cry or whine with snuffling
4. : to speak or act in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional manner
the actual people snivel every bit as piously as in the gravest legend — Bruce Lancaster
transitive verb
1. : to bring into a specified or implied condition by sniveling
2. : to utter or express with or by sniveling
don't come sniveling you'd like to go back with the pilot — Marguerite Steen
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English snevel, from snivelen, snevelen, v.
1. archaic : mucus in or from the nose
2. snivels plural , dialect : head cold
3. : an act or instance of sniveling