Also 4 snacche, snasche, snache, 6 snach, snatche. [f. SNATCH v.]
† 1. A hasp, catch or fastening. Obs. rare.
1341–2. Ely Sacr. Rolls (1907), II. 118. In factura … lasches snasches et rening barres pro hostio pro les nouises.
1527–8. Rec. St. Mary at Hill, 343. Paid for mending of a snach in the morrow mas prestes chist.
† 2. A trap, snare, entanglement. Obs.
13[?]. K. Alis., 6559 (Laud MS.). No man ne may hym [sc. the unicorn] lacche, Bot by gyle & by snacche.
1568. T. Howell, Arb. Amitie (1879), 43. By dailie doome these precepts vewe, to scape the bayted snatch.
1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 20 b. You are caught … and so entangled in this snatch, that ye cannot escape.
1620. Shelton, Quix., III. i. The Chevalier del Febo, being taken in a Gin like unto a Snatch that slipped under his feet.
1655. Baily, Life of Fisher, xxi. 162. They think to take me in a Poppes snatch, but they are deceived.
3. A hasty catch or grasp; a sudden grab or snap at something. Freq. fig.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron., II. 514. At which words George Buchanan giveth a snatch.
1590. Spenser, F. Q., III. i. 22. Like dastard Curres, that … rome from place to place, To get a snatch, when turned is his face.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., ¶ 2. Happy is he that is least tossed vpon tongues; for vtterly to escape the snatch of them it is impossible.
1651. N. Bacon, Disc. Govt. Eng., II. (1739), 175. What was gotten by the snatch was lost by the catch.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xx. The fawning wile of the spaniel, the determined snatch of the mastiff.
1866. Morn. Star, 21 Aug., 3/2. He saw him … walk a few steps in advance of her, then suddenly turn and make ‘the snatch’ in question.
1873. M. Arnold, Lit. & Dogma (1876), 226. Here and there he made guesses and snatches at the truth.
b. A catch, check or hesitancy. rare–1.
1611. Shaks., Cymb., IV. ii. 105. The snatches in his voice, And burst of speaking were as his.
c. A sudden twitch or jerk. rare–1.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), IV. 477. The movements of his arms were indeed in ungraceful snatches, and the muscles of the neck frequently evinced a like convulsive start.
4. By, or in, snatches, by hasty, unsustained efforts; hurriedly, by fits and starts; intermittently, interruptedly, not continuously. Also rarely at … snatches.
(a) 1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., II. (1586), 48. By snatches (as it were) and not throughly.
1625. Commons Deb. (Camden), 101. What is it … to get or lose a towne by snatches?
1665. Manley, Grotius’ Low-C. Warrs, 507. Hitherto all that was done, was by snatches and intervals, as it were at a breathing.
1733. Pope, Lett. to Swift, 28 May. I have begun two or three letters to you by Snatches, and been prevented from finishing them.
1753–4. Richardson, Grandison (1781), VII. 182. When … she now-and-then could look up, which she did by snatches, as it were.
1837. Lockhart, Scott (1839), IX. 59. The little that he read of new books, or for mere amusement, was done by snatches in the course of his meals.
1898. Baring-Gould, Old Eng. Home, xi. 250. He has to take his victuals and his rest by snatches.
(b) 1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 169. The business … must often … be done in snatches, or not done at all.
1850. S. Dobell, Roman, vi. Poet. Wks. (1875), 74. Passing gales in snatches bore me Their evening talk.
1897. Miss Kingsley, W. Africa, 287. I went in again and slept in snatches.
(c) 1692. Burnet, Life & Death Rochester, 138. He told me as his strength served him at several snatches.
5. A brief period, short space (of time).
1563. Foxe, A. & M., 1187/2. I wene we shall haue a snatch of rebellion euen now.
1573. Tusser, Husb., li. (1878), 113. Then after a shower to weeding a snatch.
1619. Hieron, Wks., II. 451. By day is not meant now and then a snatch, or a piece of the forenoone only.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., To Rdr. In this worke attempts will exceed performances: it being composed by snatches of time.
1663. Bunyan, Praying in Spirit, Wks. 1855, I. 623. One [vizard] for an appearance, before men, and another for a short snatch in a corner.
1825. Lamb, Elia, II. Superannuated Man. The … tedious weeks that must intervene before such another snatch [of holidays] would come.
1893. Stevenson, Catriona, xxix. 339. I was scarce so miserable the next days but what I had many hopeful and happy snatches.
b. esp. A short spell of sleep or slumber.
1820. L. Hunt, Indicator, xiv. The most relishing snatch of slumber out of bed.
1863. Mrs. Oliphant, Salem Chapel, xxi. Snatches of momentary sleep … had fallen upon her.
c. A brief manifestation or display of something.
1880. Jefferies, Gt. Estate, 32. The sunshine broods warm over the mead. It is a delicious snatch of spring.
1885. Manch. Exam., 14 July, 5/1. Those snatches of fitful energy which mark the movements of the East.
6. a. A hasty meal or morsel; a snack.
1573. Tusser, Husb., lxxvi. (1878), 168. Call seruants to breakeast by day starre appere, a snatch and to worke.
1611. Beaum. & Fl., Knt. Burning Pestle, II. i. (1613), D 4. Beleeuse me, To sleepe without a snatch would mickle grieue me.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, III. ii. G 4 b. I feare you’l haue cold entertainment,… and ’twere discretion To take a snatch by the way.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, V. vi. After we had pretty well staid our Stomachs with some tight Snatches.
1791. Boswell, Johnson (1831), II. 490. Our kind host and hostess would not let us go without a snatch as they called it; which was in truth a very good dinner.
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, Snatch. A mouthful between meals.
1893. Walker, Three Churchmen, vii. 76. He took only a snatch or light refection, returning immediately to his desk.
† b. In allusive use (see quots.). Obs.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, Wks. (Grosart), XI. 256. Tush! what bawdry is it he wil not suffer, so he may have mony and good chere, and, if he like the wench well, a snatch himselfe.
1611. Cotgr., s.v. Pain, Prendre vn pain sur la fournée, to get a snatch at his wench thats readie to be maried.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., III. II. V. iii. 648. They had rather go to the stewes, or haue now and then a snatch…, then haue wiues of their owne.
† c. A share; a portion seized on. Obs.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 368. And not only these haue a share, but also … other seruitors pill and poll, and euery one hath a snatch.
a. 1610. Healey, Theophrastus (1636), 51. Those which sacrifice and feast he makes great love to, hoping to get a snatch.
7. A small amount or portion († taken hurriedly); a mere fragment or disconnected piece.
1592. G. Harvey, Foure Lett., iv. 56–7. A snatch, and away, with Neoptolemus, and the common sort of studentes, may please a little, but profiteth nothing.
1656. Baxter, Reformed Pastor, 20. It is not now and then an idle snatch or taste of studies that will serve to make a sound Divine.
1673. Remarques Hum. Town, 124. You will hear … some snatches of occurences, whose beauty you are not able to perceive without the knowledge of the whole.
1732. H. Walpole, Lett. (1903), I. 1. That little snatch of conversation was so agreeable.
1780. Johnson, in Boswell (Oxf. ed.), II. 347. Snatches of reading … will not make a Bentley or a Clarke.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, II. vi. ¶ 5. The barber … had heard some little snatches of my story from Fabricio.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., XIII. iv. (1872), V. 43. We had better give the snatch of Dialogue in primitive authentic form.
1890. Stevenson, Vailima Lett. (1895), 12. I returned to begin this snatch of a letter before dinner was ready.
b. A brief view; a glimpse.
1816. L. Hunt, Rimini, II. 133. For leafy was the road, with … distant snatches of blue hills between.
1842. Louisa S. Costello, Pilgr. Auvergne, I. 319. Planted with gigantic trees, from openings between which are charming snatches of country.
8. A short passage, a few words, of a song, etc.; a small portion, a few bars, of a melody or tune.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. vii. 178. Which time she chaunted snatches of old tunes.
1795–1814. Wordsw., Excurs., I. 569. He … whistled many a snatch of merry tunes.
1818. Scott, Hrt. Midl., xl. Madge was … singing her own wild snatches of songs and obsolete airs.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. III. viii. Not a musical Patriot can blow himself a snatch of melody from the French Horn.
1884. F. M. Crawford, Rom. Singer, I. 10. It was quite natural that he should … begin to sing a snatch of the tenor air to me.
b. ellipt. in the same senses.
1823. Lamb, Elia, II. New Year’s Coming of Age. Singing … number of old snatches besides, between drunk and sober.
1847. Alb. Smith, Chr. Tadpole, vii. (1879), 66. Having carolled which snatches, he played a kind of symphony.
1890. Saintsbury, Elizab. Lit., i. 9. Sometimes … both syntax and prosody … recall the ruder snatches of an earlier time.
† 9. A quibble; a captious argument. Obs.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., IV. ii. 6. Come sir, leaue me your snatches, and yeeld mee a direct answere.
1687. R. L’Estrange, Answ. Dissenter, 33. There are several Snatches in This Paper, that are either Founded, or Pretend to be Founded upon the Resolution, and Obligation of Laws.
10. That which is obtained in snatches.
1879. J. D. Long, Æneid, p. v. This, the snatch and pastime of the last year, is not printed because there is want of it.
11. ellipt. (See quot. 1867 and SNATCH-BLOCK.)
c. 1850. Rudim. Navig. (Weale), 98. The hawser is hauled in through the snatch.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 636. Snatch. Any open lead for a rope: if not furnished with a sheave, it is termed a dumb snatch, as on the bows and quarters for hawsers.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 180. The snatch for the mast rope must be fitted with a bolt.
12. Mining. (See quot.)
1860. Eng. & For. Mining Gloss. (ed. 2), 79. Snatch, a small chimney at surface,… used to ventilate very limited underground workings by means of one shaft.
13. An illicit line used in fishing.
1899. in Eng. Dial. Dict., s.v., Charged with using a snatch for the purpose of catching salmon.
