Now dial. Forms: 4 (9) snaip (4 snaipe), 4–5 snayp- (5 snaypp-), 5– snape, 6 snep, 9 snaap, etc. See also SNEAP v. [a. ON. sneypa to outrage, dishonor, disgrace (Icel. sneypa to chide, snub, Norw. snøypa to withdraw, draw in, pinch, etc., MSw. and Sw. snöpa to castrate).]
† 1. trans. To be hard upon; to harm, damage or injure in some way. Obs.
13[?]. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2003. Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde.
c. 1400. Anturs of Arth., vii. Þe slete and þe snawe, þat snayppede þame so snelle.
a. 1400–50. Alexander, 3995. Sire Porrus with a proude swerd him on þe pan strikis, So snelle at he snatirs with, nere snaypid him for euire.
2. To rebuke or snub (a person, etc.) sharply or severely; to check, restrain or curb (a child); to call off (a dog). Now dial.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 13027. Vte of desert þar he was in, He com to snaip þe king sinn. Ibid., 22103. Vr lauerd snaips þir tua tuns, And þus he sais in his sermuns.
1483. Cath. Angl., 346/2. To Snape, corripere.
1570. Levins, Manip., 26. To Snape, redarguere.
1601. [Bp. W. Barlow], Defence, 201. Durand snaped, about originall sinne, and merite in the workes of grace.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, To Snape or Sneap, to check [a child].
1788. W. H. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 353. To Snape; to silence, check, or at least threaten, as a barking dog, or a mischievous child.
1811–. freq. in dial. glossaries (Cumb., Durh., Yks., Lancs., Staffs., Shrops., etc.).
b. To check or stop (growth); to blight, nip or mar the growth of (a plant, etc.). Now dial.
1630. Craven, God’s Tribunal (1631), 12. Magistrates, have you laboured to snape the growth of sinne.
1828–. in dial. glossaries (Cumb., Yks., etc.).
3. dial. To stint of food.
1847. Halliw., A step-mother snapes her step-children-in-law of their meat.
1869–. in Eng. Dial. Dict.
Hence † Snaping vbl. sb., rebuking, snubbing.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18853. In his snaiping [Trin. snybbyng] auful was he. Ibid., 24007. Mi spirite for yeild i wend, Þair snaiping was sa smert.
1555. Inst. Gentleman, C ij b. To correcte them in wordes, which manye fonde mothers doo call snepping of a childe, dyscoraging his boldnes.
