Etymology Late Middle English, from Middle Dutch snuffen (“to snuff, sniff, snuffle”). Related to Dutch snuiven (“to sniff”), Middle Low German snûve (“pose, head-cold”), German Schnupfen (“head-cold”). The noun is probably from Dutch snuf (“snuff”), an abbreviation of snuftabak, snuiftabak (“snuff”). Related to sniff (compare Dutch snuffen (“snuff”), German schnupf (“snuff”), French schnouff (“junk”)).
Finely ground or pulverized tobacco (or other plant derivative) intended for use by being sniffed or snorted into the nose.
The native of some South American tribes use this drug as an aphrodisiac in the form of a snuff called cohoba.1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 51:
2
Fine-ground or minced tobacco, dry or moistened, intended for use by placing a pinch behind the lip or beneath the tongue.
Dry snuffs are often adulterated with quicklime, and moist snuffs, as rappee, with ammonia, hellebore, pearl-ash, etc.1896, Universal Dictionary of the English Language:
[…] most of the women dipped snuff and of course had a spit-cup in the house.1937, Zora Neale Hurston, chapter 5, in Their Eyes Were Watching God, University of Illinois Press, published 1978, page 76:
3
A snort or sniff of fine-ground, powdered, or pulverized tobacco.
4
The act of briskly inhaling by the nose; a sniff, a snort.
5
Resentment or skepticism expressed by quickly drawing air through the nose; snuffling; sniffling.
Etymology Late Middle English, from Middle Dutch snuffen (“to snuff, sniff, snuffle”). Related to Dutch snuiven (“to sniff”), Middle Low German snûve (“pose, head-cold”), German Schnupfen (“head-cold”). The noun is probably from Dutch snuf (“snuff”), an abbreviation of snuftabak, snuiftabak (“snuff”). Related to sniff (compare Dutch snuffen (“snuff”), German schnupf (“snuff”), French schnouff (“junk”)).
1
To inhale through the nose.
He snuffs the wind, his heels the sand excite.1697, Virgil, “Georgics”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Earl Walter winds his bugle horn; / To horſe, to horſe, halloo, halloo! / His fiery courſer ſnuffs the morn, / And thronging ſerfs their Lord purſue.1796, Gottfried Augustus Bürger, “The Chase”, in [Walter Scott], transl., The Chase, and William and Helen: Two Ballads, from the German […], Edinburgh: […] Mundell and Son, […], for Manners and Miller, […]; and sold by T[homas] Cadell, Jun. and W[illiam] Davies (successors to Mr. [Thomas] Cadell) […], →OCLC, stanza I, page 1:
1 more example
Napoleon paced to and fro in silence, occasionally snuffing at the ground.1943 November – 1944 February (date written; published 1945 August 17), George Orwell [pseudonym; Eric Arthur Blair], Animal Farm […], London: Secker & Warburg, published May 1962, →OCLC:
2
To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense.
January 29, 1625, Joseph Hall, Public thanksgiving for the wonderful mitigation of the late morality Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff?
Etymology From Middle English snoffe, snuffe, of uncertain origin. Compare Middle Dutch snuf, snof (“snuff”), Dutch sneuvelen (“to die in battle”).
1
The burning part of a candle wick, or the black, burnt remains of a wick (which must be periodically removed).
his memory stinks like the snuff of a candle when it is put out […]1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition II, section 3, member 3:
If the burning snuff happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup.1731 (date written; published 1745), [Jonathan] Swift, Directions to Servants […], London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], and M. Cooper, […], →OCLC:
2
Obsolete Leavings in a glass after drinking; heeltaps.
The cops are chasing their own asses on the St Christopher case, so how about a “Are You St Christopher's Next Slaying?” piece? Profiles of all the snuffs to date and reconstructions of the victims' last minutes.2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, London: Sceptre (Hodder and Stoughton), →ISBN:
4
Slang A film or video clip which involves a real non-acted murder.
Etymology From Middle English snuffen, snoffen, from the noun (see Etymology 2 above).
1
Lifestyle, SexualityInformal To extinguish a candle or oil-lamp flame by covering the burning end of the wick until the flame is suffocated.
If you like snuff stories, Mr. Witomski's computer will send you information about the Gladiator newsletter. And if you happen to prefer killing sexual partners of the opposite sex — no problem, the computer will alter the pronouns.1987 February 22, Lars Eighner, “Gay Writers Are Attempting Quality Work”, in Gay Community News, volume 14, number 31, page 4:
insane woman voice: no i’m not into snuff or gore I just like when pretty femmes get their heads chopped off2025 August 7, @Morbol_Wife, X:
The dimness of the light her candle emitted made her turn to it in alarm; but there was no danger of its sudden extinction, it had yet some hours to burn; and that she might not have any greater difficulty in distinguishing the writing than what its ancient date might occasion, she hastily snuffed it. Alas! it was snuffed and extinguished in one.1803 (date written), [Jane Austen], Northanger Abbey; published in Northanger Abbey: And Persuasion. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John Murray, […], 20 December 1817 (indicated as 1818), →OCLC:
3
Slang To snuff out; to extinguish; to put out; to kill.
Too much of a coward to snuff myself Guess I'll just have to suffer myself1985, J. G. Thirlwell, “Enter the Exterminator”, in Nail, performed by Scraping Foetus Off the Wheel:
A court yesterday rejected a challenge to the constitutionality of prohibiting same-sex marriage, snuffing hopes for marriage equality proponents to shortcut stalled legislative efforts.2021 November 18, Coconuts Bangkok, “Thai constitution does not permit same-sex marriage, court rules”, in Coconuts Bangkok, Bangkok: Coconuts, retrieved 18 Nov 2021: