snifter
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L328026 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈsnɪftə/ / /ˈsnɪftəɹ/
noun
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.
- A sniff.
- A strong or severe wind.
- 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.”
- 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.”
“And now, old horse, you may lead me across the street to the Coal Hole for a short snifter.”
- Synonym of cocaine addict; a sniffer.
- A small amount of cocaine taken by inhaling through the nose.
- A handheld device used to detect signals from radio transmitters; a sniffer.
verb
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.”
“Nifler. To ſnifter, or ſnuffe vp ſniuell; to dravv it vp by dravving in the vvind.”
- Followed by out: to speak (words) in a nasal, snuffling manner.