Forms: 4–6 snoffe, 5 snof, 9 dial. snoff; 4–7 snuffe, 7 snuf; 6– snuff. [Of obscure origin: G. schnuppe († snupe), which agrees in sense, does not correspond phonetically.]

1

  I.  1. That portion of a wick, etc., which is partly consumed in the course of burning to give light, and in the case of candles requires to be removed at intervals; † a candle-end.

2

  Also Mining, a smift (Gresley, 1883): cf. SNOFF.

3

1382.  Wyclif, Exod. xxv. 38. Candelquenchers, and … where the snoffes ben quenchid.

4

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVIII. xxxix. (MS. Bodl.). Ȝif a mare … smelleþ þe snoffe of a candel sheo casteþ here foole.

5

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 462/1. Snuffe, of a candel, muco.

6

1530.  Palsgr., 272/1. Snoffe of a candell, mesche, limignon, lumignon.

7

1544.  Phaër, Regim. Lyfe (1553), E iij. Ye must lay to ye nose … assafetida, or the snuffes of candels.

8

1577–87.  Holinshed, Chron., III. 1208/1. Through negligence of a maiden with a candell, the snuffe falling in an hundred pounds weight of gunpowder.

9

c. 1645.  Howell, Lett. (1655), IV. xxi. 58. In som this light goes out with an ill-favor’d stench; But others have a save-all to preserve it from making any snuff at all.

10

1682.  H. More, Cont. Remark. Stories, 8. Striking the Candle…, and afterwards making three scrapes on the snuff to put it out.

11

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. Snuff,… bout de Chandelle.

12

1705.  Addison, Italy, Antiq. near Naples, 230. A Torch, Snuff and all, goes out in a Moment when dipp’d into the Vapour.

13

1756.  Phil. Trans., LV. 185. Hence the suffocating nature of air impregnated with burnt grease, as from snuffs of candles, and the like.

14

1815.  J. Smith, Panorama Sci. & Art, II. 347. On letting it down again, it will be perfectly lighted from the spark of the snuff.

15

1843.  Keightley, Notes Virg., Georg., I. 390. The thick snuff which gathers on the wick [of the lamp].

16

1870.  E. Peacock, Ralf Skirl., II. 161. A candle with a long snuff burnt on the table.

17

  collect.  a. 1400–50.  Bk. Curtasye, 829, in Babees Bk. Of wax þese candels alle…; Þo snof of hom dose a-way With close sesours.

18

a. 1631.  Donne, Sat., ii. 78. As a thrifty wench … barrelling the droppings, and the snuffe, Of wasting candles.

19

  Comb.  1733.  Lady G. Baillie, Household Bk. (1911), 381. 2 snuff pans.

20

1758.  Franklin, Lett., Wks. 1887, III. 8. There are also snuffers, a snuffstand, and extinguisher, of steel.

21

  b.  In comparisons, used to describe what is faint, feeble, or on the point of extinction.

22

1534.  More, Comf. agst. Trib., II. Wks. 1172/1. I can not licken my life more metely now than to the snuffe of a candle.

23

1589.  Pappe w. Hatchet (1844), 36. A wit worn into the socket, twinkling and pinking like the snuffe of a candle.

24

1631.  Quarles, Samson, viii. The other are but blasts, That faintly blaze like Oyle-forsaken snuffes.

25

1654.  Warren, Unbelievers, 252. His Arguments should go out like a snuffe of a candle in the socket.

26

1730.  ? Swift, Clad all in Brown, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 263. Thy soul, which through thy hide of buff, Scarce glimmers like a dying snuff.

27

1786.  Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 6 Oct. All the poor attendants … drop off, one after another, like so many snuffs of candles.

28

1869.  Trollope, He knew, etc. lxxxix. (1878), 494. Some said … that she was going out like the snuff of a candle.

29

  c.  fig. or in fig. context (see quots. and cf. prec.).

30

1589.  Hay any Work, 39. Why thou vnsauorly snuffe, dost tow thinke that men know not D. Bridges?

31

1601.  Shaks., All’s Well, I. ii. 59. Let me not liue … After my flame lackes oyle, to be the snuffe Of yonger spirits.

32

1652.  N. Culverwel, Lt. Nature, I. xviii. (1661), 166. The Lamp of a Moralist … may go out in a snuff.

33

a. 1680.  Charnock, Attrib. God (1834), II. 525. Were such filthy snuffs fit of themselves to be kindled by … a gospel beam?

34

1705.  trans. Bosman’s Guinea, 410. The Buffel soon trod out the small remainder of the Snuff of his Life.

35

1742.  Young, Nt. Th., VIII. 467. How mean that snuff of glory fortune lights, And death puts out!

36

  d.  Used to denote something of no value.

37

1778.  Miss Burney, Evelina, lxxxii. Who … cares the snuff of a candle?

38

1887.  W. S. Gilbert, Ruddigore, II. You don’t care the snuff of a candle.

39

  2.  The nozzle of a lamp, in which the wick burns.

40

1611.  Cotgr., Bec de la lampe, the socket, or snuffe of the lampe.

41

1797.  Monthly Mag., III. 507. There is also a little portative lamp, having only one snuff.

42

  † 3.  A heel-tap; a portion of a drink left at the bottom of a cup. Obs.

43

1592.  Nashe, P. Penilesse, Wks. (Grosart), II. 83. Rather keepe a snuffe in the bottome of the glasse to light you to bed withall.

44

1616.  R. C., Times’ Whistle (1871), 60. Then each must haue his bout And drink vp all; to leave a litle snuffe Is petty treason.

45

1647.  [H. Nevile], Parliam. of Ladies, Title-p., Either malice, or want of wit, hightned with snoffes of Ale or stayned Claret.

46

1673.  O. Walker, Educ., II. i. 218. Drinking many in the same cup; and many times the snuffs left by the former.

47

1731–8.  Swift, Polite Conv., 163. (Miss drinking part of a Glass of Wine). Neverout. Pray, let me drink your Snuff.

48

  fig.  a. 1640.  Jackson, Creed, XI. xix. The devil still labours to glut men…, then he vents his snuffs or refuse upon them.

49

  II.  4.a. To take … in (the) snuff (or to snuff), to take (a matter) amiss, to take offence at, to be annoyed or indignant at, to resent. Obs.

50

  The original reference was no doubt to the unpleasant smell proceeding from the smoking snuff of a candle, but there may also have been association with SNUFF sb.2 or v.2 The phrase was especially common between 1580 and 1660.

51

1560.  Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 463. A brute went that the Pope toke it in snuffe [L. indigne tulisse] that this truce was made.

52

1570.  Foxe, A. & M., 2281/1. This matter the Justice tooke sore to snuffe, and was very angry.

53

1579.  W. Wilkinson, Confut. Fam. Love, 41. Hee … taketh it greatly in the snuffe, that his stuffe … should be brought to light.

54

1617.  Moryson, Itin., III. 28. Englishmen, especially being young and unexperienced, are apt to take all things in snuffe.

55

1661.  Pepys, Diary, 6 Oct. Mr. Mills…, I expect, should take it in snuffe that my wife did not come to his child’s christening the other day.

56

1716.  T. Ward, Eng. Reform., 129. Pray take it not, you old Cur-mudgeon, So much in snuff and evil dudgeon.

57

  b.  To take snuff, to take offence or umbrage (at a thing). Obs. exc. arch.

58

  In quot. 1821 associated with SNUFF sb.3 (cf. PEPPER sb. 4 b).

59

1565.  Allen, Defence Purg., xiv. 262. Aërius,… taking snoffe that he could not get a bisshoprike, fell in to the hæresy of Arius first.

60

1597.  Beard, Theatre God’s Judgem. (1612), 195. The yonker taking snuffe thereat, Why (said hee) takest thou thought for me?

61

1610.  Holland, Camden’s Brit., II. 211. Which the Manksmen hearing, tooke such a snuffe and indignation thereat that they sent for Olave.

62

1640.  Fuller, Joseph’s Coat (1867), 51. Let us heed how we take snuff at the simplicity of God’s ordinance.

63

1692.  R. L’Estrange, Fables, I. clxxxv. 156. Jupiter took Snuff at the Contempt, and Punish’d him for’t.

64

1725.  New Cant. Dict., s.v., To take Snuff; To take Pet.

65

[1821.  Scott, Kenilw., i. But take no snuff in the nose about it.

66

1876.  G. H. Kingsley, Sport & Trav. (1900), 322. With hearty hoping that North Britons will not take huffe nor snuffe at these kindly criticisms.]

67

  5.  A fit of indignation; a huff, pet, rage, passion. Used with a, the, or without article. Now Sc.

68

  (a)  1592.  Greene, Upst. Courtier, Wks. (Grosart), XI. 279. These were going away in a snuff, for beeing thus plainly taunted.

69

1605.  Shaks., Lear, III. i. 26. Either in snuffes, and packings of the Dukes, Or the hard Reine which both of them hath borne Against the old kinde King.

70

c. 1620.  Bp. Hall, Contempl., O. T., XIV. (1628), 1145. Abners duty … not to flye out in a snuffe.

71

  (b)  1607.  S. Collins, Serm. (1608), 184. Smothering the talent that he lent thee … in snuffe, and pelting discontent.

72

1609.  B. Jonson, Sil. Wom., IV. v. He went away in snuffe, and I followed him.

73

1665.  Pepys, Diary, 19 Sept. I find they go up in snuffe to bed without taking any manner of leave of them.

74

  (c)  1886.  Stevenson, Kidnapped, iii. 18. Dinnae fly up in the snuff at me.

75

1898.  J. M. Cobban, Angel of Covenant, xi. 146. There’s naething other debated among the gentlemen at Court but the mighty high snuff and dudgeon ye gaed aff wi’.

76

  † 6.  attrib. Angry, violent. Obs.1

77

1582.  Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 68. Now me the Myrmidones for captiue prisoner hold not, Nor sterne snuff Dolopans.

78