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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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SNUFF, n.², v.², int. Also snuf. Sc. usages:

I. n. 1. As in Eng., snuff, powdered tobacco. Combs. and deriv.: (1) snuff-bean, the tonka-bean, used for scenting snuff; (2) snuff-girnal, a container for holding snuff, a snuff-mill (Ags. 1971); ¶(3) snuff-hauder, jocularly, the nose; (4) snuff-horn, a snuff-box, specif., one made of the tip of an animal's horn (Sh., Ags., Per. 1971); (5) snuff-mill, -mull, -milne, a snuff-box. Gen.Sc. See Mill, n., 6.; (6) snuff-pen, a small spoon or quill for taking snuff. See Pen, n.¹, 2.(3). Also fig., a trifle, something of little importance; (7) snuffy, as in Eng. Comb. snuffy hanky, a handkerchief for use after taking snuff (Per., Kcb. 1971); (8) also fig. in phr. to tak snuff til one's nose, to take offence, get in a huff (Abd. 1971).(1) Abd. 1898 Abd. Wkly. Free Press (25 June):
In the corner o' his mull there aye lay buried a scentit snuff-bean.(2) Per. 1857 J. Stewart Sketches xcvi.:
His snuff-girnal became empty on Saturday morning.(3) Lnk. 1895 A. G. Murdoch Readings II. 100:
I widna venture to blaw my auld snuff-hauder in the jaud's hearing.(4) Rnf. 1813 E. Picken Poems I. 117:
Gie's a shaw o' your snuff-horn.Ayr. 1873 A. Aitken Poems 85:
[He] his snuff-horn gravely seeks.(5) Sc. 1707 Household Bk. Lady G. Baillie (S.H.S.) 18:
For 3 snuf milnes. . . . £4.Sc. 1816 Scott Antiquary xxii.:
An old-fashioned Scottish snuff-mull.Rnf. 1835 D. Webster Rhymes 27:
His snuff-mill was the horn o' ram.n.Sc. 1854 H. Miller My Schools 92:
A number of curious little articles, among the rest, Highland snuff-mulls.Ags. 1889 Barrie W. in Thrums v.:
Tammas sent his snuff-mull round.(6) Bnff. 1833 Trans. Bnff. Field Club (1939) 34:
He has shot a deer from the shank of which he was going to make snuff pens.Sc. 1861 C. Rogers Sc. Character 48:
Ye wadna gie an ae snuff-pen Tho' a' the warld were swimmin'!Knr. 1894 H. Haliburton Furth in Field 22:
A comrade might present Jocky with a 'snuff-pen'.(7) Fif. 1962 Scots Mag. (June) 209:
My grandfather always used a "snuffy hanky" of soft cotton with Paisley pattern.

2. A pinch of snuff. Gen.Sc. (exc. Sh.).Wgt. 1701 Session Bk. Glasserton MS. (14 May):
She leaned with her elbow on Robert Baylies bedside and askt a snuff.Fif. 1736 D. Beveridge Culross (1885) II. 119:
He met John Norrie at the chapel barn, where he received a snuff from him.Sc. 1818 Scott H. Midlothian Prol.:
I will enrich thy nose with a snuff from my mull.Abd. 1826 D. Anderson Poems 59:
Lugg'd out her mill an' took a snuff.Ayr. 1873 A. Aitken Poems 84:
Grup the mill An' tak' an extra snuff.Fif. 1897 D. Pryde Queer Folk 87:
In his excitement he took four or five snuffs consecutively.

3. A very small amount of anything; transf. something of little significance or value, a trifle. Gen.Sc. Dim. snuffie, id.Sc. 1722 W. Hamilton Wallace viii. iv.:
Their Armour did not signify a Snuff.s.Sc. 1809 T. Donaldson Poems 72:
My memory, man, 's no worth a snuff.Ayr. 1822 Galt Entail lxxvii.:
Hoot, wi' your male heirs, and your snuffies.Dmf. 1836 A. Cunningham Lord Roldan II. iii.:
D'ye think my queen Anne has nought but a snuff o' powder in her?Ags. 1868 G. Webster Strathbrachan III. xx.:
Wi' the snuff o' saut and the tait o' mustard, and a hair o pepper.Ags. 1907 D. Tasker Readings 93:
He disna care a snuff as lang as he gets beer.Edb. 1915 T. W. Paterson Auld Saws 10:
Snigg'rin ower the auld green bannet — Dinna care a snuff.

II. v. 1. To take snuff (Sc. 1782 J. Sinclair Ob. Sc. Dial. 93). Gen.Sc. Rare in Eng. Vbl.n. snuffin(g), the taking of snuff, specif. as part of the ceremony of the Common Riding in Hawick. Also attrib.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. iii. ii. Prol.:
The auld anes think it best To snuff, crack, and take their rest.Sc. 1858 E. B. Ramsay Reminisc. (1874) 208:
I hope you do not let him snuff so much as he did.Per. 1879 P. Drummond Bygone Days 247:
Kippen's mother snuffed heavily.Rxb. 1937 W. S. Robson Story Hawick (1947) 106:
The Snuffing, in former times (till c.1860), was not a public ceremony, as presently conducted, but was peculiar to the Burgh Officer, drummers and pipers.Rxb. 1966 Hawick Express (5 Jan.) 3:
It was mebbe a melee ootseide bit in the shop itsel was leike the snuffin at the Commin Ridin!

2. Used with imprecative force: to go to blazes.Dmb. 1846 W. Cross Disruption xxxviii.:
Jean wanted us to brush our ain shoon for the Kirk the morn; but Jean may snuff.

III. int. An exclamation of annoyance or impatience, = stuff!, nonsense! Dim. snuffy, id. Also snuffs o' tobacco, id. Cf. I. 3.Sc. 1725 Ramsay Gentle Shep. ii. i.:
Spin! Snuff! Gae break your wheel.Rnf. 1807 R. Tannahill Poems (1900) 25:
Toot, snuff! bout news ye needna be sae thrang.Ayr. 1826 Galt Lairds xiv.:
"Pin money." "Pin snuffy!"Ayr. 1890 J. Service Notandums 58:
Snuffs o' tobacco! I daursay the body's fou.