Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

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.

SNICHER, v., n. Also snecher (Abd. 1932 D. Campbell Bamboozled 60) and in altered and deriv. forms snichle; snichter, snighter. Sc. forms of Eng. snicker, snigger. [′snɪç(t)ər]

I. v. To snigger, laugh in a suppressed way (Abd. 1825 Jam.). Gen.Sc.Sc. 1825 Aberdeen Censor 155:
Snighterin' an' laughin'.Ayr. 1882 J. Hyslop Poems 162:
I see Jeems ye snicher an' girn.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 33:
A hantle o' snicherin' amang the mair thochtless.Dmf. 1898 J. Paton Castlebraes 89:
Sneevilin' an' snichterin' and befulin' yersel' like that.Bnff. 1937 E. S. Rae Light in Window 14:
She's a sleekit, snichlin', inhaudin' snite.Abd. 1955 W. P. Milne Eppie Elrick xx.:
A snicherin kin' o' a lauch.Abd. 1996 Sheena Blackhall Wittgenstein's Web 7:
Neil Rannoch, the gamie's loon, an Jimmy Higgins frae the paper shoppie, war keekin ower at Davie an snicherin nesty-like. Davie reidened an turned awa, kickin a teem crisp pyock ben the tarred playgrun.

II. n. A snigger, a titter. Gen.Sc.Ags. 1892 A. Reid Howetoon 126:
A bit snicher ran roond the table.Gall. 1900 R. J. Muir Muncraig iii.:
A snicher and a smile went round the shop.Ayr. 1912 G. Cunningham Verse 69:
Monie a snicher and hearty guffaw.Abd. 1940 C. Gavin Hostile Shore ii.:
Wi' a white collar and a feart-like snicher.