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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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About this entry:
First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

SNIFFLE, v., n. Also ¶snifle-. Sc. usages.

I. v. 1. Only in deriv. snif(f)ler, a strong, gusty wind; transf. a difficult business, a “tickler.”Abd. 1768 A. Ross Helenore (S.T.S.) 39:
Wi' weet an' wind sae tyte into my teeth. . . I manna ilka day be coming here To get sick sniflers [1778, snifters ].Sc. 1829 M. Scott Tom Cringle viii.:
The sniffler reached us, and the sharp little vessel began to speak.Per. 1872 W. Stevenson Yetts o' Muckart 9:
Pat jingles, when wantit, come up by the pair, But three-ply's a sniffler, — just try't if ye doot.

2. To trifle, to be slow in motion or action, to loiter (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 173; Bnff., Abd. 1971). Chiefly in ppl.adj. snifflin, slow, lazy, busy to no purpose, procrastinating, frivolous (Sc. 1808 Jam.; Gall. 1824 MacTaggart Gallov. Encycl. 430; Gregor; Bnff., Abd. 1971). Derivs.: sniffler, a trifler, a driveller, a person of little ability or energy (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Kcb. 1900); sniffltie-fit, a fisherman's taboo-name for the shore-crab, Carcinus maenas, phs. from its sideways shuffling gait.ne.Sc. 1881 W. Gregor Folk-Lore 148:
The green crab is used as bait by the fishermen. Its real name was never pronounced, especially during the time of putting it upon the hook as bait. In Pittulie, if it had to be named, it was called “sniffltie fit.”

II. n. 1. In pl. with the: the difficulty of breathing through the nose caused by a cold in the head (Slk. 1825 Jam.; Uls. 1953 Traynor; Sh., Cai., Ags. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. Cf. Snifter, n., 2.

2. (1) Slowness in motion or action, the act of trifling, procrastination (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D. Bnff. 173); (2) a slow-coach, a trifler, a driveller (Lnk. 1825 Jam.; Gregor).