Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†SNIVRI, n. Also sniverrie, snjivri in sense 1., and reduced forms snivi, sneevie in sense 2. [′snɪvri]
1. A home-made wooden button, esp. one used as a button for a leather or oilskin jacket (Sh. 1908 Jak. (1928), 1914 Angus Gl.); a catch or fastener, in gen. Also in comb. snivri-pin, id. (Jak.).Sh. 1949 J. Gray Lowrie 141:
He grippid tree sniverries apo da tap, an' hit wis open apo da meenit.
2. A short wooden pin used as a fish-hook; the wooden pin to which the fish-hook is attached (Jak.). Also in comb. sniv(r)i-pin, sneevie-, id. (Ib).Sh. 1892 Manson's Sh. Almanac:
I filled a sneevie pin wi tarrie wupins.
