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.
SNACK, n.1, v.1, adv. Also snak(k), sneck. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. snack, bite, share, a light meal. [snɑk]
I. n. A bite, a snap, esp. of a dog, a snapping of the teeth (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne., em., sm., s.Sc. 1970). Now only dial. in Eng. Deriv. snackus, a sharp blow, smack (Kcd. 1825 Jam.). See -Us.Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 87:
But ane gies him a snack an' syne anither, Till he is near-hand worried a' thegither.Rxb. 1848 R. Davidson Leaves 31:
A surly hound salutes him wi' a snack.
II. v. 1. tr. and intr. To snap with the teeth, to bite (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; em., sm., s.Sc. 1970). Also fig. Deriv. snakkers, jaws.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 104:
May ye ne'er want a freen', gin need Should show his ganchin, snackin head.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 20:
His fell wee snakkers ken nae haivens.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 366:
He'll no as muckle as snack at a flee that lichts on his nose.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 1:
Nurrin teikes snackin an yowfin.
2. tr., with up: to snap up, consume, gobble up.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lxxviii. 63:
His ain youngsters, the lowe snacket up.Ags. 1895 Caledonia I. 309:
Ye've the best richt to the troot, snack her up, man.
3. tr. To break off sharply or with a snap, snap off short.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xxiii.:
A shove that snacked the good new farthing tobacco-pipe.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 31:
A blue-faced monkey wi' its tail snackit aff.
4. tr. To snap, cause to snap or click.Dmf. 1823 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 202:
I ne'er snacked a flint at pouther a' my days.
III. adv. With a snap or click.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 318:
His teeth gaed snack thegither wi' a skelp like a slippit fiddle-brig.
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"Snack n.1, v.1, adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 6 Dec 2024 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snack_n1_v1_adv>