Also 6–7 snugg. [Of doubtful origin; first recorded as a nautical term. In later use app. associated with the early senses of SNUG v., but it is possible that there is no original connection between the two.
There is resemblance in form, and some correspondence in sense, to LG. snügger (snigger), snögger slender, smooth, clean, dainty, smart, etc., older Du. snuggher, snoggher (Kilian), slender, slim, active (Du. snugger lively, sprightly), but evidence of connection is wanting. Cf. also Sw. snygg, Da. snyg, neat, tidy, etc., which may be from LG.; but Da. dial. snøg, Sw. dial. snögg (snāgg), Norw. dial. snøgg (snegg) represent ON. snǫggr (Icel. snöggur) short, short-haired, sudden, quick, etc., which is app. represented in English by SNOG a.]
A. adj. 1. Naut. Of a ship or her parts: Trim, neat, compact; adequately or properly prepared for, or protected from, bad weather.
c. 1595. Capt. Wyatt, R. Dudley’s Voy. W. Ind. (Hakluyt Soc.), 58. A verie fine snugg long shipp, having on each side vi. portes open, beside her chase and her sterne peeces.
a. 1642. Sir W. Monson, Naval Tracts, III. (1704), 358. She will overtop a lower and snug Ship.
1711. W. Sutherland, Ship-build. Assist., 50. The streighter and snuger the Sheer lies, the less Wind is held to hinder the Motion of the Ship.
1799. Naval Chron., II. 304. The stern is … plain, and snug, without much carving.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, ii. 3. Soon all was snug aloft, and we were again allowed to go below.
1882. Nares, Seamanship (ed. 6), 46. It would not form so snug a lashing.
1883. J. D. J. Kelly, in Harper’s Mag., Aug., 447/2. She will be … snug for any gale.
fig. 1848. Dickens, Dombey, iv. The shop seemed almost to become a snug sea-going, ship-shape concern.
b. In phrase to make snug.
1697. Dampier, Voy. (1699), 380. Captain Read … ordered the Carpenters to cut down our Quarter Deck to make the Ship snug and the fitter for Sailing.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 9. [To] make everything snug and close, that the Ship might ride as easy as possible.
1726. Shelvocke, Voy. round World (1757), 70. To ease our bows, and make everything as snug as possible.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, III. xi. 200. We’ll make her all snug for the night. Furl the fore and mizen-topsail.
1851. Kitto, Daily Bible Illustr., LII. iv. (1867), 445. Their next care was to make the ship ‘snug,’ by lowering the sail, and bringing down upon deck her spars and rigging.
1897. Mary Kingsley, W. Africa, 385. We let go the anchor, make all snug and go ashore.
c. transf. Of persons or things: Neat, trim. Now Obs. or dial.
1714. Steele, Lover, No. 15 (1715), 98. There was seated just before her a pretty snug Academick.
1725. Ramsay, Gentle Sheph., I. ii. He kames his hair, indeed, and gaes right snug.
1756. Connoisseur, No. 126, ¶ 5. Flowers of rhetoric, injudiciously scattered over a sermon, are as disgusting in his discourse, as the snug wig and scented white handkerchief in his dress.
1789. Gouv. Morris, in Sparks, Life & Writ. (1832), II. 90. Sometimes an orator closes with a good snug resolution which is carried with a huzza.
d. Close-fitting; tight.
1838. in Holloway, Prov. Dict.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 13 Aug., 7/2. The corsage of the gown should not be too snug, but it should be shapely and ‘tailor made’ to the last degree.
2. In a state of ease, comfort, or quiet enjoyment. Chiefly pred., and freq. with in (a place).
1630. J. Lane, Contn. Sqr.’s T., vi. 5. (Ashm. MS.). Now Chaunticleere … the poise of his clockes watch at twoe gann sterr,… Yet snugs binn they in cabins.
1706–. [see b].
1783. Cowper, Lett., Wks. (1876), 144. There is hardly to be found on Earth I suppose so snug a creature as an Englishman by his fire-side in winter.
1798. Southey, Pious Painter, II. xi. Released from his prison,… The Painter is snug in his bed.
1812. H. & J. Smith, Horace in London, 173. Tho’ all the while my proper self Is snug at home, My pen shall roam.
1859. W. Collins, Q. of Hearts (1875), 50. I made a blazing fire … and sat down to tea, as snug and comfortable as possible.
1891. E. Peacock, N. Brendon, I. 131. He found … the Colonel’s groom making the animals snug for the night.
b. In phrases of comparison (see quots.).
1706. E. Ward, Wooden World Diss. (1708), 58. He sits as snug as a Bee in a Box, making his Honey.
1769. Stratford Jubilee, II. i. If she [a rich widow] has the mopus’s, I’ll have her, as snug as a bug in a rug.
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, X. x. ¶ 23. You will be as snug there as a bug in a blanket.
1833. T. Hook, Love & Pride, vi. You might sit as snug as a bug in a rug.
c. With lie vb. Also, securely caught or imprisoned. (Cf. 6.)
1687. Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. s.v., To lie snug in a Bed.
1781. Cowper, Anti-Thelyphthora, 79. On southern banks the ruminating sheep Lay snug and warm.
1796. Nelson, 1 Aug., in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), II. 224. This blockade is complete, and we lay very snug in the North Road.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xii. While Becky Sharp was on her own wing in the country,… Amelia lay snug in her home of Russell Square.
1879. Browning, Martin Relph, 51. Safe in the trap would they now lie snug, had treachery made no sign.
3. Of places, buildings, etc.: Comfortable and warm, cosy; esp. combining comfort with neatness and compactness.
c. 1718. Prior, The Ladle, 68. A Country Farm, Where all was snug, and clean, and warm.
1784. Cowper, Task, I. 513. Then snug enclosures in the shelter’d vale … Delight us.
1806. J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life, III. vii. Your snug warm bed.
1841. Dickens, Barn. Rudge, ii. Those inside had risen from their snug seats, and were making room in the snuggest corner for the honest locksmith.
1885. Miss Braddon, Wyllard’s Weird, i. Heathcote inherited a snug little estate near Bodmin.
1898. J. A. Gibbs, Cotswold Village, 141. I know no … snugger hostelry than the Swan.
b. Comb., as snug-box, -chair, -parlour.
1702. Farquhar, Twin-Rivals, IV. i. Presently enters Mr. Moabite, followed by a snug-chair, the windows close drawn.
1768. Woman of Honor, III. 76. That neat snug-box of mine in Surry.
1816. Keatinge, Trav. (1817), II. 5. The snug-parlour travellers of the critic.
c. Of climate: Agreeable, pleasant, genial.
1888. C. D. Warner, in Harper’s Mag., March, 562/1. Duluth has a cool, salubrious summer and a snug winter climate.
4. a. Enabling one to live in comfort and comparative ease.
1735. Fielding, Mod. Husb., II. v. Have you no friend that could favor you with some comfortable snug employment, of a thousand or fifteen hundred per annum?
1780. Mirror, No. 78. 312. Looking out for some snug office, or reversion, to which my interest with several powerful friends might recommend me.
1822. Hazlitt, Table-t., Ser. II. iv. (1869), 97. A few hundreds a year are something snug and comfortable.
1867. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., 79. A good snug business they’ve got.
transf. 1807. Syd. Smith, Lett. Catholics (1808), 130. An endless series of snug expectations and cruel disappointments.
1814. Scott, Wav., v. The snug probability of succeeding to his father’s office.
b. Moderately well-to-do; comfortably off; ‘warm.’ Chiefly Irish dial.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T. (1816), I. xv. 121. He was a very cautious snug man, and he did not choose to interfere.
1828. Croker, Leg. S. Irel., II. 222. Tim himself would have been snug enough sometimes but that he loved the drop.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, viii. You’re a snug man, Mat; you ought to be able to give a husband a trifle with them.
1900. E. Phillpotts, Sons of Morning, III. iii. ‘Twenty pounds ban’t much.’… ‘Not to your faither, as he be a snug man enough by accounts.’
c. Fairly large or substantial.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Vanderput & S., iv. 65. I shipped a snug package of velvets, which certain great folks are at this moment wearing.
1848. Thackeray, Van. Fair, xl. Having a snug legacy from Miss Crawley.
1873. B. Harte, Fiddletown, 40. This gentleman had made a snug fortune during the felicitous prevalence of a severe epidemic.
5. Marked or characterized by ease or comfort; comfortable, cosy.
(a) 1766. [C. Anstey], Bath Guide, xiii. 16. No Lady in London is half so expert At a snug private Party, her Friends to divert.
1781. Han. More, in Roberts, Mem. (1835), I. 210. I was on Monday night at a very snug little party…. We had a snug day.
1824. W. Irving, Tales Trav., I. 185. They did occasionally give snug dinners to three or four literary men at a time.
1827. Scott, Chron. Canongate, i. The club-room, and the snug hand at whist.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, xxxvii. He liked snug dinners of all things in the world.
(b) 1813. Examiner, 14 Feb., 102/2. Denmark and Sweden … had kept themselves in a very snug neutrality.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xlvi. A sort of snug and comfortable penitence.
† b. Cant. (See quot.) Obs.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v., All’s snug; All’s quiet; used by Villains, when every thing is silent, and they hear no body stir to oppose their intended Rogueries.
c. Of a borough: Close. (See BOROUGH 3 c.) rare.
1844. P. Harwood, Hist. Irish Rebell., 41, note. The other boroughs, which were close or snug, sent the remainder.
6. In concealment or hiding; out of sight or observation. Chiefly with lie vb. (Cf. 2 c.)
1687. trans. Sallust (1692), 185. The Numidians kept themselves and their Horses snug within the Trees and Bushes.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., III. 24. Did I not see you, Rascal, did I not? Where you lay snug to snap young Damon’s Goats?
1733. Swift, On Poetry, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 187. Be sure at Will’s, the following day, [To] Lie snug, and hear what criticks say.
1797. F. Reynolds, The Will, III. i. When a man is in debt, the Capital is the place to lie snug in!
1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, V. i. ¶ 4. A hue and cry was raised…, but I lay snug, and they missed me.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxiii. But you must remain snug at the Point of Warroch till I come to see you.
1862. Borrow, Wild Wales, III. xiv. 152. Lying snug in cave by day and going out at night to rob.
† b. Marked or characterized by privacy, secrecy or concealment; private, secret. Obs.
1710. Swift, Lett. (1767), III. 37. Methinks when I write plain … all the world can see us. A bad scrawl is so snug.
1766. Life of Quin, i. 6–7. James had … carried on what he thought a very snug intrigue with Mrs. L——.
c. To keep (…) snug, to keep quiet, to refrain from talking about or alluding to (something). Now dial.
1778. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 26 Aug. My conduct has been as uniform in trying to keep snug as my words. Ibid. (1796), Lett., 10 July. He,… laughingly, said, ‘So you keep it quite snug.’
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., 508. I take it for granted that he’ll be as glad of a settlement that keeps all ‘snug,’ as ourselves.
1877. N. W. Linc. Gloss., 231/2. Doctors an’ lawyers is beholden to keep things snug, folks tells ’em.
7. Used as an interjection asking for or commanding secrecy, esp. in phrase snug’s the word.
1700. Congreve, Way of World, I. ii. If throats are to be cut, let swords clash! snug’s the word, I shrug and am silent.
1748. Foote, Knights, I. Wks. 1799, I. 65. You could give us a little news if you would; come now!—snug!—nobody by!
1809–12. Mar. Edgeworth, Vivian, viii. There’s a man who could tell you more than any of us, if he would; but snug’s the word with Wicksted.
1842. Lover, Handy Andy, xxi. Whisht,… not a word…. Good-bye, you’ll hear more about it to-morrow—snug’s the word.
B. adv. Snugly.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 128. I take the seed … to be a cluster of bubbles wryed up snug.
1766. [C. Anstey], Bath Guide, vi. 27. So they hoisted her down just as safe … And as snug as a Hod’mandod rides in his shell.
1768. Goldsm., Good-n. Man, Epil. He eyes the centre, where his friends sit snug.
1831. Lincoln Herald, 9 Sept., 3/6. It is calculated to button across snug up to the neck.
1853. Kane, Grinnell Exped., xxix. (1856), 252. The provisions and stores of all sorts are packed snug.
1884. Pae, Eustace, 34. To see you succeed in getting your son and my nephew put snug into the estate.
