snifter meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

snifter

verb

UK /ˈsnɪftə/ · US /ˈsnɪftəɹ/

Etymology The verb is derived from Middle English snifteren, snifter, snyfter (“to sniffle”), possibly from *snift (possibly derived from an Old Norse word—compare Old Danish snifte and Swedish snyfta (“to sniffle; to sob”); probably ultimately imitative) + -er- (frequentative suffix) + -en (suffix forming the infinitive of verbs). The noun is derived from the verb.

To sniff; also, to snivel or snuffle.

Brouffer. To ſnurt, or ſnifter vvith the noſe, like a horſe.1611, Randle Cotgrave, compiler, “Brouffer”, in A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, signature [M vj], verso, column 1:
Nifler. To ſnifter, or ſnuffe vp ſniuell; to dravv it vp by dravving in the vvind.1611, Randle Cotgrave, compiler, “Nifler”, in A Dictionarie of the French and English Tongues, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC, signature Kkk, recto, column 1:

1 more example

I confess when I heard this read out in a strong, mellow and affecting tone, I could not resist crying; the tears ran down my cheeks, and I was obliged to dight them with my sleeve, and snifter like a whipped boy.1835, James Hogg, “Some Remarkable Passages in the Life of an Edinburgh Baillie, Written by Himself”, in Tales of the Wars of Montrose. […], volume I, London: James Cochrane and Co. […], →OCLC, page 130:

Archaic, Rare Followed by out: to speak (words) in a nasal, snuffling manner.

Derived terms: snifterer, sniftering, snufter

snifter

noun

7 senses

1A sniff.
2A strong or severe wind.
3A small, wide, pear-shaped glass used for drinking…
4Synonym of nip (“a small amount of an alcoholic…
5Synonym of cocaine addict; a sniffer.
6A small amount of cocaine taken by inhaling through the nose.
7A handheld device used to detect signals from radio…

Northern England, Scotland A sniff.

Northern England, Scotland, Figuratively A strong or severe wind.

Figuratively A small, wide, pear-shaped glass used for drinking aromatic liquors such as bourbon and brandy.

[H]e springs to another wooden vat and turns a valve, filling a snifter with a warm amber liquid. […] Bang holds the liquid up to the light, swirls it around, takes a sniff of the pungent bouquet, puts the glass to his lips—and gives a satisfied smile.2003 January 20, “Getting Saucy”, in Time, New York, N.Y.: Time Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 03 Nov 2012:

Figuratively, Informal Synonym of nip (“a small amount of an alcoholic beverage, especially one equivalent to what a snifter (noun sense 2.2) might hold”)

"Sit down, bo," invited Soup Face. "I guess you're a regular all right. Here, have a snifter?" and he pulled a flask from his side pocket, holding it toward The Oskaloosa Kid.1917 (date written), Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Oakdale Affair”, in The Blue Book Magazine, Chicago, Ill.: Story-press Corp., published March 1918, →OCLC; republished Doylestown, Pa.: Wildside Press, 2003, →ISBN, page 21:
And now, old horse, you may lead me across the street to the Coal Hole for a short snifter.1923 June, P[elham] G[renville] Wodehouse, “The Début of Battling Billson”, in Ukridge, London: Herbert Jenkins […], published 3 June 1924, →OCLC, page 56:

US, Figuratively, Slang Synonym of cocaine addict; a sniffer.

US, Figuratively, Slang A small amount of cocaine taken by inhaling through the nose.

US, Figuratively, Slang A handheld device used to detect signals from radio transmitters; a sniffer.

Derived terms: brandy snifter, snifters, snifter valve