Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2001 (DOST Vol. IX).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Snevil(l, Snawil, Snewel(l, Snivel(l, v. [ME and e.m.E. snevel (c1325), snyvelle (Cath. Angl.), OE *snyflan, ODan. snevle, Sw. dial. snavla also in the later dial.] a. To snuffle, whine; also const. out, to speak in a snuffling or whining manner. b. specif. Of the nose: To run with mucus. —a. a1400 Leg. S. xvi 459.
The child cane snawil than, & grape The modyr pape 1650 Misc. Maitl. C. II 484.
After that the Chancelour had snivelled out a long premeditat discourse, of his miscarigis [etc.] —b. a1508 Kennedy Flyt. 550.
Out, out, I schout, apon that snowt that snevillis