Etymology The adjective is derived from snoot (“(UK, dialectal, and slang) snout; nose”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’), probably referring to a snobbish person often having their nose in the air (that is, acting disdainfully towards others). Snoot is a dialectal variant of snout. The noun is derived from the adjective.
1
Informal Haughty, pompous, snobbish; inclined to turn up one's nose.
Sir Sydney was an arrogant, snooty, bigoted prig, so it was with some satisfaction that I wrote out his parking ticket.
I didn't like the way you looked at May Arnold, or the snooty way you talked.1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter XX, in Babbitt, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, section I, page 252:
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ever since she landed the National gig she's got very snooty about struggling theatre mates, as if she alone has discovered the secret to being successful2019, Bernardine Evaristo, “Chapter 1 [Yazz]”, in Girl, Woman, Other, London: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 43:
2
Broadly, Informal Of an event, a thing, etc.: elite, exclusive.
Her parties were snooty affairs; custom-designed cocktail dresses that cost more than a decent luxury car were de rigueur.
The Mercury for 1959 firmly establishes itself as Ford Motor's flashy centerpiece in the middle-price field. […] It's snootier than the Edsel—and snootier than it was, itself, in 1958.1958 December, Devon Francis, “What’s New with Edsel, Mercury, Lincoln”, in Howard Allaway, editor, The Popular Science Monthly, volume 173, number 6, New York, N.Y.: Popular Science Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 78, column 1:
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I grew up a privileged princess in Nob Hill, the snootiest neighborhood in San Francisco. My father's family had so much money they didn't know what to do with it.2017, Janice Sims, One Fine Day (An Arabesque Novel), New York, N.Y.: Kimani Press, page 128:
3
Broadly, Informal, Uncommon Easily angered or irritated; irritable, short-tempered.
Etymology The adjective is derived from snoot (“(UK, dialectal, and slang) snout; nose”) + -y (suffix forming adjectives meaning ‘having the quality of’), probably referring to a snobbish person often having their nose in the air (that is, acting disdainfully towards others). Snoot is a dialectal variant of snout. The noun is derived from the adjective.
1
Informal, Uncommon Synonym of snoot (“an elitist or snobbish person”).
Well there was always cliques as far as that goes. You had your snooties and dooties, and people that were down to earth, and it's mixed.1993, Elizabeth Lapovsky Kennedy, Madeline D. Davis, quoting D. J., “‘Maybe ’cause Things Were Harder … You Had to Be More Friendly’: Race and Class in the Lesbian Community of the 1950s”, in Boots of Leather, Slippers of Gold: The History of a Lesbian Community, New York, N.Y.; London: Routledge, →ISBN, page 113:
Because you never hung around with the city snooties like I did, scooping up the council gossip.2005 February, Tara K. Harper, chapter XVIII, in Wolf in Night (Tales of the Wolves; 7), New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, →ISBN, page 193:
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I don't care a whole lot for the snooty people. […] Yup, the snooties are a pain in the—uh—rear end—but at least you know where they're coming from. The phonies are the actors. They play whatever role meets their own selfish needs.2013, Stan Poel, chapter 3, in Of Souls and Patriots, Bloomington, Ind.: WestBow Press, Thomas Nelson, →ISBN, page 34: