Now dial. Forms: 7 snithe, 9 snive; 7, 9 snie, 8–9 sny, 9 snye; 7, 9 snee. [Of obscure origin.] intr. To abound, swarm, teem, be infested, with something.
1674. Ray, N. C. Words, 44. To Snee or snie, to abound or swarm. He snies with Lice, he swarms with them.
1675. V. Alsop, Anti-Sozzo, 503. Certainly never did man so snithe with prejudices against Truth.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial., Gloss., Snye, to swarm.
1849. Howitt, Year Bk. Country, 242/32. The villages in the forest sny with children.
1882. Echo, 16 Jan., 4/1. The place literally ‘snives’ with rabbits.
1897. J. Prior, Ripple & Flood, xix. 165. The watter snies wi’ fish.
