v. and sb. Obs. Also 7 steake or snye, stick or snee, 8 snic or snee; 7–8 snick-or-snee. [orig. ad. Du. steken (G. stechen) to thrust, stick, and snijen, snijden (G. schneiden) to cut, with subsequent assimilation of the st- of the first word to the sn- of the second.
In the first quotation the form snye indicates a pronunciation of snijen similar to that in mod. standard Du.; the later snee represents a variant pron. still widely current in Du. and Flem. dialects.]
1. a. As vb. To thrust or cut in fighting with a knife; to use a knife in this manner.
a. 1613. Rowland, Four Knaves (Percy Soc.), 31. Let falchion, polax, launce, or halbert try, with Flemings-knives either to steake or snye.
1635. Glapthorne, Hollander, I. i. It is our Countrie Custome onely to Stick or Snee.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Wks. (1730), IV. 17. Let the dull-pated Boors Snic or snee at their Punch-Bowls, or slash for their Whores.
1704. D’Urfey, Hell beyond Hell, 55. Fish-wives whom rage does enflame To snick-or-snee at Rotterdam.
b. As sb. The practice of fighting with cut-and-thrust knives.
1670. in 14th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. IV. 87. [They] fell upon him with knives (one was found afterwards of the Duch fashon, for their snick or snee).
1695. Dryden, Parall. Poetry & Paint., Ess. (Ker), II. 132. The representation of a Dutch kermis, the brutal sport of snick-or-snee.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Dial. Dead, Wks. 1711, IV. 33. The noble Combats of Snick or Snee, or some illustrious Sea-fight.
2. transf. Used to denote one or other of two possible alternatives or courses.
1675. Alsop, Anti-Sozzo, 324. Yet that is interpreting Scripture by the sound of words also; so that we are in a Fork, Snick or Snee; and both wayes equally undone. Ibid. (1680), Mischief Imposit. (ed. 2), viii. 75. The Question now, is Snick or Snee? Turn, or Starve? Conform or Hang? Use the Cross, or bear the Cross?
[1681. [W. Clagett], Reply to ‘Mischief of Impositions,’ 6. One would guess this man has an aking tooth to be at it again, though with snick or snee, as he calls it.]
