Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SNASHTER, n., v. Also snaster, and in dim. form snashtrie.

I. n. In pl.: a contemptuous name for sweets, cakes, pastries, or other dainties, trashy food (Ayr. 1825 Jam.; Lnk. 1900; Ayr. 1930; Per., Slg., Fif., wm.Sc. 1970).Rnf. 1865 J. Young Homely Pictures 150:
Ilka bawbee i' their keep Aye gaed in snashtries for their wames.Ayr. 1913 J. Service Memorables 65:
Their snashters o' tairts an siclike.Dmb. 1931 A. J. Cronin Hatter's Castle i. iv.:
Cups o' tea and snashters at a' hours.Arg. 1932:
Stick ye tae loaf breed an' lee thae snasters alane. She maks aafu snashters; English things naebody can eat.Arg. 1992:
Put these snashters away this meenit - yer tea'll be ready in half an oor. Arg. 1998 Angus Martin The Song of the Quern 57:
An it got fond o nibblin
the snashters she laid oot
tae tempt it fae the burra
an gar it loup aboot. Ayr. 2000:
Cups o tea an' snashters at aw oors. Edb. 2004:
Stop eating snashters, or ye'll no eat yer tea!

¶II. v. To be continually eating sweets, etc., to guzzle trashy food (Rnf. c.1850 Crawfurd MSS. (N.L.S.) S. 103).