a. [f. SNAP v. + -Y.]
1. = SNAPPISH a. 1.
1834. in B. Gregory, Side Lights (1898), 157. I am inclined to be snappy when I am told [etc.].
1858. E. B. Ramsay, Scot. Life & Char., iv. Snappy and disagreeable … in their replies.
1889. J. K. Jerome, Three Men in Boat, x. 155. Harris and George and I were quarrelsome and snappy and ill-tempered.
b. = SNAPPISH 1 b.
1890. Star, 13 Oct., 4/1. Hard work … doesn’t improve Sir Peter’s temper, and consequently he was in a particularly snappy mood to-day.
1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends, 16. This request … is given in an off-hand, snappy kind of a way.
2. = SNAPPISH a. 2.
1886. St. James’ Gaz., 25 Sept., 5/1. The Queen’s Speech … might even be called curt and snappy.
1897. W. H. Thornton, Reminisc. West-Co. Clergyman, iii. 84. We grew warm, and our conversation snappy.
3. Sc. (See quot.)
1825. Jamieson, Suppl., Snappy, keen in business, disposed to take the advantage of another, Ang[us].
4. = SNAPPISH a. 4.
1881. W. H. Rideing, in Harper’s Mag., LXIII. 496/2. Sharing the vehicle with a snappy terrier.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., II. 701. Dogs inoculated … fell into emaciation, foamed at the mouth and became snappy.
5. Of the nature of, producing or emitting, a snap or crack; crackling.
1878. Jefferies, Gamekeeper at H., 120. Short sharp snappy sounds.
1894. E. McCarthy, in Outing, XXIV. June, 190/2. It [the birch] makes a hot, snappy, cheerful fire, while the pungent smoke gives perfect relief from flies and mosquitoes.
6. colloq. Cleverly smart, bright or pointed; full of ‘go’; brisk.
Freq. in recent use, esp. with reference to language.
1873. ‘Susan Coolidge,’ What Katy did at Sch., vi. 88. We’ll never use the whole name…: we’ll say, ‘the S.S.U.C.’ That sounds brisk and snappy.
1901. Athenæum, 17 Aug., 209/3. Mere stage back grounds for snappy tales, generally realistic.
b. Neat and elegant; smart, ‘natty.’
1881. Punch, LXXX. 310/3.
1887. W. Rye, Norfolk Broads, 57. The frame of a very ‘snappy’ little pleasure wherry.
1897. A. H. Godfrey, in Outing, XXX. 108/1. A snappy team of grays.
c. Having a brisk smack or flavor.
1892. Walsh, Tea, 164. Many … teas are full and round in body, pungent and ‘snappy.’
7. Quick, sudden, instantaneous; jerky.
1872. O. W. Holmes, Poet Breakf.-t., viii. 240. The dry-goodsman’s life behind his counter is a succession of sudden, snappy perceptions.
1882. [Lees & Clutterbuck], Three in Norway, xxiv. 201. It was almost impossible to get even the snappiest of snap-shots at the agile bird.
1896. Mrs. Caffyn, Quaker Grandmother, 212. To give her a snappy hand-shake.
