Also 6 snoffe, 6–7 snuffe. [prob. ad. MDu. snoffen, snuffen to snuffle, etc., corresponding to G. dial. schnuffen, † schnüffen (cf. also LG. and MHG. snûfen, G. schnaufen), either of imitative origin, or related to MDu. snuven, etc.: see SNUVE v. In sense 8 perhaps directly from SNUFF sb.3]
I. trans. 1. To draw up or in through the nostrils by the action of inhalation.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, D iv. The same water snuffed upward in the nose is very good to puryfye the hede.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 101. Snuffinge vp into theyr nosethryls the pouder.
1579. E. K., Gloss. Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., Feb., 75. Venteth, snuffeth in the wind.
1608. D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 59 b. For euen so likewise may those little Atomies be snuft vp with the ayre.
1632. trans. Bruel’s Praxis Med., 151. We will make a powder … and snuffe this vp into the nose.
1697. Phil. Trans., XIX. 681. The Juice of this Weed being snuft up the Nose, is good to make one sneeze.
1746. Berkeley, Sec. Let. Tar-water, § 15. Tar-water hath been snuffed up the nostrils.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, IX. i. Then I take a walk … and snuff in a little fresh country air.
1818. Scott, Rob Roy, xxviii. Snuffing up his breath through his nose.
1872. Huxley, Physiol., viii. 197. When we wish to perceive a faint odour more distinctly, we sniff, or snuff up the air.
fig. 1629. H. Burton, Truth’s Triumph, 234. These Pontificians … snuffing vp the winde of vaine opinions.
1639. G. Daniel, Vervic., 485. Like to those Who put on Sullen lookes, and grumble short, Who Snuffe poore Women vp, with a hot Nose.
2. To inhale, draw up, into or through the nostrils.
To snuff pepper: see PEPPER sb. 4 b.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, § 264. The pouder of Peper … snuft or blowen into the nose doth make quycke sternutacions.
1615. Rowlands, Melancholie Knt., 13. Snuffe some into your nostrils till you neese.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, III. I. xxix. The nostrills snuff perfumed wind.
1726. Pope, Odyss., XIX. 508. The pack impatient snuff the tainted gale.
1774. Nicholls, in Corresp. w. Gray (1843), 175. There I snuffed once more the fragrance of that air.
1814. Scott, Wav., xxxviii. The leading Highlander snuffed the wind like a setting spaniel.
1870. Morris, Earthly Par., III. IV. 239. The Persian merchants stood and snuffed the scent Of frankincense.
fig. 1844. Disraeli, Coningsby, IX. vi. 325. They snuffed the factious air, and felt the coming storm.
b. To draw out by snuffing. rare–1.
1648. Hexham, II. Snuyven, ofte snuffen, to Snuffe out the Snot or Filth out of ones Nose.
† 3. To clear (the nose) by inhalation. Obs.
1561. Hollybush, Hom. Apoth., 3. If he can not snoffe his nose.
1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xx. Master Janotus with his Adherents vowed never to blow or snuffe their noses, until judgement were given.
4. To detect, perceive, or anticipate, by inhaling the odor of. Also freq. fig.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Georg., I. 519. The Cow … from afar can find The Change of Heav’n, and snuffs it in the Wind.
a. 1763. Shenstone, Elegies, xxii. 82. E’en now the villain snuffs his wonted prey.
1790. P. Francis, in Four C. Eng. Lett. (1880), 307. I snuff it [i.e., mischief] in the wind. I taste it already.
1810. Southey, Kehama, VI. i. What if the hungry tiger … Should snuff his banquet nigh?
1830. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 287. The high church and the tories snuff the possibility of another revolutionary war.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ii. 41. The old bull snuffed danger in the wind.
5. To smell at, examine by smelling.
1859. J. Brown, Rab & Fr., § 11. He [a dog] … snuffed him all over.
1874. Blackie, Self-Cult., 29. Like the racing of some little dog about the moor, snuffing everything and catching nothing.
1886. T. Frost, Remin. Country Journalist, iii. 34. He observed a dog … snuff the earth at the edge of the swampy ground.
II. intr. 6. To draw air, etc., into the nostrils by an effort of inhalation; to do this in order to smell something. Also const. after, at.
α. 1530. Palsgr., 724/1. I snoffe, as a man doth, or a horse, je reniffle. Herke how he snoffeth.
1535. Coverdale, Jer. ii. 23. Like a wilde Asse … that snoffeth and bloweth.
β. c. 1530. Ld. Berners, Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814), 163. Than sir Isembarte … snuffed in the nose, and bette togyder his teth.
1553. Respublica, III. iv. 775. Come the devill, yf hym luste, staring and snuffing.
1614. B. Jonson, Bart. Fair, II. v. Go, snuffe after your brothers bitch.
1672. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, I. (Arb.), 43. So Boar and Sow, when any storm is nigh, Snuff up, and smell it gath’ring in the Skie.
a. 1720. Sewel, Hist. Quakers (1795), II. VII. 61. But the bull snuffing, went a little back.
a. 1761. Cawthorne, Antiquarians, 265. Quick to his side he flies amain, And peeps, and snuffs, and peeps again.
1826. Scott, Woodst., iii. The good hound … continued to snuff around Joseph Tomkins’s cloak.
1863. W. C. Baldwin, Afr. Hunting, ix. 389. He elevated head and tail, snuffed, trotted, and snorted.
1879. Beerbohm, Patagonia, iv. 61. I woke, roused by some horse which … was snuffing at me curiously.
b. Const. up one’s nose.
1714. in Addison, Lover, No. 10. He will also snuff up his nose and spit it out as he eats.
1741. Chesterf., Lett., 25 July. Tricks such as snuffing up his nose.
1756. C. Smart, trans. Horace, Sat., II. vii. (1826), II. 161. I am easily seduced by my appetite; I snuff up my nose at a savoury smell.
7. To express scorn, disdain or contempt by snuffing; to sniff. Freq. const. at a thing or person. Now rare or Obs.
(a) 1544. Phaër, Bk. Childr. (1553), A ij. Suche … will doo nothinge but detract and iudge other, snuffing at all that offendeth the noses.
1575. Gascoigne, Glasse of Govt., Wks. 1910, II. 69. That one being ignorant of that others punishment, shall never grudge or snuffe at the same.
1643. Lismore Papers, Ser. II. (1888), V. 139. Being snuffed at by some great ones, none of the rest wold signe.
1677. Gilpin, Dæmonol. Sacra (1867), 107. Satan first presented these services as a wearisome burden, then they snuffed at them.
(b) 1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., De Arte Poet. A vij. The noble, honorable rytche … will snuffe, and take it peper in the nose.
1579. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 61/2. Curssed shall he be, that shal dare to snuffe against his creator.
1607. Hieron, Wks., I. 332. When the word of God is preached,… many worldlings begin by and by to snuffe.
1674. Bunyan, Christ. Behaviour, Wks. 1852, II. 568. It argueth pride when … thou snuffest and givest way to thy spirit to be peevish.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, XII. vi. (Rtldg.), 431. If any of my acquaintance should snuff or snigger when they call me Don.
8. To inhale powdered tobacco; to take snuff.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., III. ii. Prol. The auld anes think it best … to … Snuff, crack, and take their rest.
1826. Disraeli, V. Grey, V. ii. ‘Do you snuff?’ and here he extended to Vivian a gold box.
1858. E. B. Ramsay, Reminisc. Scot. Life & Char., v. I hope you do not let him snuff so much as he did.
1881. Du Chaillu, Land of Midnight Sun, II. 92. The men and women smoked and snuffed a great deal.
