Also 6–8 snarle (7 snarlle). [f. SNAR v.: see -LE 3, and cf. GNARL v.1]
1. intr. Of dogs, etc.: To make an angry sound accompanied by showing the teeth.
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc., 9. Yf he snarle like a cur at vs, why should not we prouide a Bastinado for him?
1631. Quarles, Samson, xv. T’one skulks and snarles, the t’other tugges and hales.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., IV. 692. The gaping three-mouth’d Dog forgets to snarl.
a. 1732. T. Boston, Crook in Lot (1805), 38. A dog snarls at a stone, but looks not at the hand that cast it.
1814. Scott, Lord of Isles, III. xxxii. While o’er those caitiffs, where they lie, The wolf shall snarl.
1861. Morn. Post, 21 Nov., 3/2. The bear snarled, but crawled on.
1889. Ruskin, Præterita, III. 48. Their dogs barked and snarled irreconcileably.
fig. 1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. i. Such Patriotism as snarls dangerously and shows teeth.
1842. Tennyson, Locksley Hall, 106. Nations … snarling at each other’s heels.
1866. B. Taylor, Poems, The Test, 414. I hear the angry trumpet snarling.
2. Of persons: To quarrel; to grumble viciously; to show strong resentment or ill-feeling.
1594. Shaks., Rich. III., I. iii. 188. What? were you snarling all before I came,… And turne you all your hatred now on me?
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. 1653, Pref. 12. Hee is not ignorant, that a large broode of pregnant wits … will snarl.
1689. Muses Farew. to Popery, 28. When Servants snarl, we ought to kick ’em out.
1709. Prior, The Ladle, x. Kissing to Day, to Morrow snarling.
a. 1776. in Herd, Anc. & Mod. Sc. Songs, II. 208. The surly auld carl did naething but snarl.
1843. G. P. R. James, Forest Days, ii. Don’t let me find you snarling with a gentleman’s servants again.
1894. G. M. Fenn, In Alpine Valley, i. 6. I should have snarled, written my cheque, and paid.
b. Const. against or at a person or thing.
1593. Nashe, Four Lett. Conf., Wks. (Grosart), II. 196. Thy hot-spirited brother Richard … snarld priuily at Pap-hatchet, Pasquill, and others.
1624. Gataker, Transubst., 39. Lest the Heretiques should be snarling at vs.
c. 1640. H. Bell, Luther’s Colloq. Mens. (1652), 154. No man giveth a fillip for the Gospel, but all do snarl against it.
1715. Chappelow, Right Way to be Rich (1717), 161. Let wicked men snarl and grin at you now.
1881. Leicester Gloss., 245. Jane snarls an’ snags at Lizzy.
c. To give out a snarling noise.
1675. Covel, in Early Voy. Levant (Hakl. Soc.), 246. The manner of the Christians buriall here is much the same; all have the Praeficae [hired mourners], who sing (or rather howl and snarlle out).
3. trans. To utter in a harsh, rude or ill-natured manner.
1693. Congreve, Old Bach., I. iv. Where hast thou been snarling odious truths, and entertaining company … with discourse of their diseases?
1839. Dickens, Nickleby, iii. ‘Who, indeed!’ snarled Ralph.
1866. Geo. Eliot, F. Holt, xlv. When the wicked Tempter is tired of snarling that word failure in a man’s cell.
1893. Times, 18 May, 9/4. [They] would confine themselves to snarling complaints in their party newspapers.
4. To put down with snarling.
a. 1873. Lytton, Ken. Chillingley, IV. ix. I can’t bear to see a man snarled and sneered down … by … rivals.
5. refl. To bring into a certain condition by snarling.
a. 1849. Southey, in Life, etc. I. v. 306. He has a most critic-like voice, as if he had snarled himself hoarse.
