v. Sc. Also 6 snoif, 9 snuive, snuve. [a. OScand. (east) *snóa (MSw. snoa, Sw. sno, Da. snoe), = ON. and Icel. snúa (Fær. snúgva, Norw. snu). For the development of the v, cf. the etym. note to RO sb.]
1. a. trans. To twirl, cause to turn. b. intr. (See quot. 1808.)
1513. Douglas, Æneid, VIII. vii. 100. To werk the lyne, To snoif the spyndill, and lang thredis twyne.
1722. Ramsay, Three Bonnets, III. 80. A wife that snooves a spindle.
1808. Jamieson, s.v., A boy’s top is said to snuve, when it whirls round with great velocity, preserving at the same time an equal motion.
2. intr. To move or advance steadily, or with a steady pace; to glide. Also fig.
1719. W. Hamilton, Ep. to Ramsay, III. ii. The pleasure counterpois’d the cumber … And snoovt away like three-hand Ombre.
1786. Burns, To Auld Mare, xiv. But just thy step a wee thing hastet, Thou snoov’t awa.
1830. Memorabilia Curliana, 106. Come snooving down white ice.
1881. R. Buchanan, God & the Man, III. 212. Many a sharp rap did the old ship get [from the ice] as she snooved along.
