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.

SNITTER, v., n.¹ Also snuitter. [′snitər]

I. v. To laugh in a suppressed manner, to giggle, snigger (Fif. 1825 Jam., snuitter s.v. snuister; s.Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 172; Ayr., s.Sc. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. 1896 G. Umber Idylls 71:
Hoo her words should provoke sae muckle snitterin' an' lauchin'.wm.Sc. 1977 William McIlvanney Laidlaw (1985) 177:
He snittered at himself and rinsed out his mouth. Edb. 1997:
Whit's she sittin in the coarner snitterin fur?

II. n. A snigger, a suppressed laugh (Fif. 1825 Jam., s.v. snuister).Edb. 1997:
She gave a wee snitter.