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Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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

SNECK, v.³, n.³ Also snick; snake.

I. v. 1. To snatch, seize, grab, steal, pilfer (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B., Abd., Ags., Fif., Ayr., Rxb. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. Deriv. snecker, a pilferer, a sharper (Rxb. 1825 Jam., 1923 Watson W.-B.).Ayr. 1833 J. Kennedy G. Chalmers 10:
Girnin' hares an' snickin' wamplin' eels.Gsw. 1873 A. G. Murdoch Doric Lyre 43:
When rent day comes ye're unca fain To look us up an' sneck the siller.Ags. 1896 Barrie Margaret Ogilvy iv.:
You were doubtful of being elected, but your auld mother had aye a mighty confidence they would snick you in.Abd. 1928:
Wis't him'at snickit the bit towe?Ags. 1931 W. Muir Imagined Corners III. xvii.:
Jim Hutcheon had “snickit” the box out of her hand before she could say Jack Robinson.Lnk. 1948 J. G. Johnston Come fish with me 116:
I snickit ma gun under ma airm.

2. To drink off, to down quickly. Only in Murdoch.Gsw. 1877 A. G. Murdoch Laird's Lykewake 75:
“Tuts, man,” quo' Johnny, “sneck your dram.”Gsw. 1879 A. G. Murdoch Rhymes 45:
Auld Donald Blue, a drover frae Braemar, Could sneck a mutchkin like a swop o' jeel.

II. n. A grabber, greedy grasping person, a nickname for an Aberdonian (Ork., Cai., Abd., Per., Fif. 1971).Per. 1811 Harp Per. (Ford 1893) 96:
That greedy snake; He gar'd them hicht their costly ware Two-pence a peck.