subs. (old).—1. A sharper; a pilferer; a cheat: spec. a thief claiming a share of booty (in quot. 1731 = a sharking lawyer). Also SNAPPER and SNAPPER-UP. As verb. = to claim a share; TO NAP THE REGULARS (q.v.); ON THE SNAP = (1) waiting a chance of robbery; and 2 (modern) looking out for odd jobs.
1604. SHAKESPEARE, Winter’s Tale, iv. 3, 26. A SNAPPER-UP of unconsidered trifles.
1611. MIDDLETON, The Roaring Girle i. 1 [Old Plays, vi. 113]. Then there’s a cloyer, or SNAP, that dogges any new brother in that trade, and SNAPPES will haue halfe in any booty.
1622. FLETCHER, The Spanish Curate, ii. 1. Die. Take heed of a SNAP, sir; h’as a cozening countenance.
1653. A. WILSON, The History of Great Britain, Being the Life and Reign of King James the First. Butler, being a subtle SNAP, wrought so with his companion, with promises of a share, that he got the possession of it.
1694. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, Æsop, 101. He had no sooner say’d out his Say, but up rises a Cunning SNAP, then at the Board.
1705. WARD, Honesty in Distress. Brother SNAP … here’s a welcome guest.
2. (old).—A scrap; a portion; a share: cf. SNACK. Hence a small standard of value: e.g., NOT A SNAP = nothing; NOT WORTH A SNAP = worthless.
1561. AWDELEY, The Fraternitye of Vacabondes, 4. [T. L. KINGTON-OLIPHANT, The New English, i. 575. A man gets a share or SNAP unto himself; hence comes TO GO SNACKS, with the usual interchange of c and p].
1648–58. FULLER, The Holy State and the Profane State, V. xiv. 1. Alms of learning, here a SNAP, there a piece of knowledge.
3. (common).—A project; a business—any happening: e.g., A COLD SNAP = a sudden spell of cold weather; A SOFT SNAP = a pleasant time, a profitable affair; TO GIVE THE SNAP AWAY = to discover. Also SNAP (theatrical) = a short engagement.
1886. The Field, 9 Jan. If we are to be interned for a cold SNAP it will be a pleasure to think of this Tuesday’s sport.
1887. F. FRANCIS, Jun., Saddle and Moccasin, xii. 227. I just want fifty dollars for an hour or two—give it to you again to-night. I’ve got a ‘SOFT SNAP’ on—can’t miss it.
18[?]. J. C. FREUND, ed. Music & Drama, XIV. xvi. 3. Actors and actresses who have just come in from summer SNAPS, to prepare for the work of the coming season.
4. (common).—A hasty meal; a SNACK (q.v.).
1858. G. ELIOT, Janet’s Repentance, i. Two hearty meals that might have been mistaken for dinners, if he had not declared them to be ‘SNAPS.’
5. (American).—Knowledge; energy, GO (q.v.); SNAPPY = lively, amusing.
1887. H. P. MILLAR, in The Tribune Book of Open-Air Sports, 118. It [Lacrosse] is a game well-suited to the American taste, being short, SNAPPY and vivacious from beginning to end.
1885. G. S. MERRIAM, The Life and Times of Samuel Bowles, II. 375. The vigorous vernacular … gave rest and SNAP to many a paragraph.
1888. LESTER WALLACK, Memories of the Last Fifty Years [Scribner’s Magazine, iv. Dec., 722]. That act went with the most perfect ‘SNAP.’
1896. LILLARD, Poker Stories, 90. I thought you had more business SNAP.
Adj. (colloquial).—On the spur of the moment; without preparation: as subs. = a chance (or SCRATCH) comer, player, crew, team, &c.). Thus, a SNAP-DIVISION = an unexpected vote; SNAP-JUDGMENT = a verdict hastily got or given; SNAP-SHOT = (1) a shot fired without deliberate aim, and (2) a photograph taken unawares. As verb. = to take an instantaneous photograph with a hand camera: also TO SNAP-SHOT.
1860. W. H. RUSSELL, My Diary in India, I. 346. Our appearance attracted SHOTS from all quarters. Fellows took SNAPS at us from balconies, from doors, on the roofs of houses.
1888. Nineteenth Century, xxiii. 252. The previous assent of the Chair to the motion for closure would prevent SNAP-DIVISIONS.
1890. ALEXANDER BLACK, Through a Detective Camera, in St. Nicholas, xvii. Oct., 1034. A European painter … had hit upon the plan of using a hand camera with which he followed the babies about, ‘SNAPPING’ them in their best positions.
1896. LILLARD, Poker Stories, 130. My … friend had brought him along as a SNAP … I supposed of course that he was all right, or his friend would not have invited him in the game.
PHRASES.—TO SNAP THE GLAZE = ‘to smash shop windows’ (GROSE); TO SNAP THE EYE = to wink; ON THE SNAP = on the look out, on the MOUCH (q.v.).
