Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1823-1925
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SNACK, n.1, v.1, adv. Also snak(k), sneck. Sc. forms and usages of Eng. snack, bite, share, a light meal. [snɑk]
I. n. A bite, a snap, esp. of a dog, a snapping of the teeth (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Sh., ne., em., sm., s.Sc. 1970). Now only dial. in Eng. Deriv. snackus, a sharp blow, smack (Kcd. 1825 Jam.). See -Us.Bwk. 1823 A. Hewit Poems 87:
But ane gies him a snack an' syne anither, Till he is near-hand worried a' thegither.Rxb. 1848 R. Davidson Leaves 31:
A surly hound salutes him wi' a snack.
II. v. 1. tr. and intr. To snap with the teeth, to bite (s.Sc. 1802 J. Sibbald Chron. Sc. Poetry Gl.; em., sm., s.Sc. 1970). Also fig. Deriv. snakkers, jaws.Rxb. 1847 J. Halliday Rustic Bard 104:
May ye ne'er want a freen', gin need Should show his ganchin, snackin head.Lnk. 1893 J. Crawford Sc. Verses 20:
His fell wee snakkers ken nae haivens.Kcb. 1895 Crockett Bog-Myrtle 366:
He'll no as muckle as snack at a flee that lichts on his nose.Rxb. 1925 E. C. Smith Mang Howes 1:
Nurrin teikes snackin an yowfin.
2. tr., with up: to snap up, consume, gobble up.Sc. 1871 P. H. Waddell Psalms lxxviii. 63:
His ain youngsters, the lowe snacket up.Ags. 1895 Caledonia I. 309:
Ye've the best richt to the troot, snack her up, man.
3. tr. To break off sharply or with a snap, snap off short.Edb. 1828 D. M. Moir Mansie Wauch xxiii.:
A shove that snacked the good new farthing tobacco-pipe.Ags. 1887 A. D. Willock Rosetty Ends 31:
A blue-faced monkey wi' its tail snackit aff.
4. tr. To snap, cause to snap or click.Dmf. 1823 Scots Mag. (Feb.) 202:
I ne'er snacked a flint at pouther a' my days.
III. adv. With a snap or click.Lth. 1857 Misty Morning 318:
His teeth gaed snack thegither wi' a skelp like a slippit fiddle-brig.
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"Snack n.1, v.1, adv.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 5 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snack_n1_v1_adv>
