I. ˈsnəg adjective
( snugger ; snuggest )
Etymology: perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish snygg tidy, neat, clean, Old Norse snöggr shorn, bald — more at novaculite
1.
a. of a ship : manifesting seaworthiness (as in design, compactness, or arrangements) : adequately prepared for a voyage or especially for riding a storm : taut
soon all was snug aloft, and we were allowed to go below — R.H.Dana
a comparatively snug rigged vessel that could leave her three lower sails set in most weather — Rudder
b. : trim , neat , tidy — used especially of a person
a snug gentleman
c. : fitting closely but not tightly or uncomfortably : not loose or baggy
a snug coat
a snug fit
install bearing retainer by pressing it on until it is snug — H.F.Blanchard & Ralph Ritchen
2.
a. : enjoying or affording warm secure shelter, safety from intrusion, and opportunity for placid ease and quiet contentment often in unpretentious quarters or quiet ways
his home … the snug haven to which his adventurous forebears retired at the end of their voyages — American Guide Series: Maine
a town that seems especially snug in winter — Richard Joseph
sit in the snug little parlor — Irish Digest
b. : at rest, warmly covered, and safe from cold
snug and warm under blankets and comforters — Willa Cather
the fisherfolk were all under thatch — G.W.Russell
c. : affording safe or protected anchorage
the sailboat enthusiast's paradise of snug harbors — R.W.Hatch
d. : compact, neat, orderly, and affording or suggesting comfortable sheltered ease or safe smoothness
snug little shops that once offered Cornhill the best soups and jellies — Rebecca West
a snug little commune intent on its own affairs — John Buchan
the street level was broken by three snug doorways — Harriet LaBarre
e. : marked by pleasant ease, conviviality, friendly intimacy or cordiality, and secure privacy
snug little dinners with old friends
3.
a. : assuring or affording a degree of comfort and ease ranging from modest adequacy to gratifying ampleness
a snug little benefice, worth a hundred gold florins a year — Alan Moorehead
family influence had installed him in a snug ecclesiastical berth — H.O.Taylor
his brother made a snug fortune — Julian Dana
b. chiefly Irish : in comfortable financial circumstances : fairly well-to-do
4.
a. : resorting to or offering safe concealment or a safe retreat
lie snug until the chase stops
a snug hideout
b. dialect : marked by or given to secretiveness or taciturn reticence
staying snug about the arrangement
Synonyms: see comfortable , neat
II. verb
( snugged ; snugged ; snugging ; snugs )
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to lie close : snuggle — often used with up or together
b. : to move along close to a confining line or surface
a horse snugging along the inner rail of the track
2.
a. : to settle or lie down : nestle ; specifically : to go to bed
dragged the old buffalo hide out to the covered wagon again, snugged in the hay and pulled all the horse blankets over us — C.T.Jackson
b. : to put something in a condition to resist a storm or other onslaught (as by lashing down movables) — often used with down
with a good motor, one can snug down while approaching a harbor — H.A.Calahan
transitive verb
1. : to place in a snug or snuggled-up position : cause to fit closely
a belt that snugs the waist
snug the sole of a shoe to the upper
overcoat collars turned up and snugged close to our necks — S.H.Adams
she curled up … her head snugged between her shoulders — D.H.Lawrence
— often used with down
found his sons, snugged down in a lifeboat, pretending to be castaways — Archie Binns
2. : to make snug
push-up sleeves snugged by tiny buttons — Californian
tidy up the fields and garden and snug the place for winter — Hal Borland
— often used with down, in, or up
snugged the farm down for the winter — H.E.Giles
farmers … snugging themselves in for the winter — L.C.Douglas
children were snugged up in overcoats, mufflers, and mittens
3. : to put away snugly : hide
pick a pocket and snug it in a featherbed — W.B.Yeats
4.
a. : to prepare (a ship) for a gale especially by reducing sail, lowering topmasts, or lashing down movables — usually used with down
b. : to put in a condition to resist a storm or other onslaught — usually used with down
snugging down her hatches for the long voyage — W.J.Granbert
move the aircraft to the parking place and snug it down for the night — Nevil Shute
5. : to rub (as twine or rope) so as to make smooth and improve the finish
III. adverb
: snugly , neatly
a coat that fits snug across the shoulders
in harbor, at night berthed snug — Thomas Wood †1950
IV. noun
( -s )
Britain : a small private room or a back room in a public house
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration of snag (II)
1. obsolete : a jagged projection
2. : a projecting piece : lug ; especially : one forged under the head of a bolt in order to prevent rotation in screwing up the nut