Dictionaries of the Scots Language
Dictionars o the Scots Leid

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

Hide Quotations Hide Etymology

Abbreviations Cite this entry

Snib, Snyb, v. Also: snibe, snybe, snibbe, snibb-, snybb-. [ME and e.m.E. snib(b (Cursor M.), snyb(b (Chaucer), snybbe (c1450), snibbe (1577), ODan. snibbe, MSw. snybba.]

1. a. To put a check on, prevent (a person) doing something. Also const. fra doing, to do (something). Also transf.There is some overlap with 2.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 1988.
A sone The quhilk to dede scho wald have done Had noucht the fadyre … snybbyt hyr rycht grewowsly 1515 Douglas Corr. 69.
He is … the instrument of mekyll harme, and I dreyd sall ȝit be of mayre and he be nocht snybbyt 1596 Dalr. I 333/14.
Wilȝeam returnes to Scotland and sourlie snibbit Gilbert, … desyreng to be king and brak his force 1596 Dalr. I 331 marg.
The rebelis heir greuiouslie snibbit 1596 Dalr. II 352/28.
Normond Leslie … cam to Scotland quhilke quhen the gouernour knew, he snibs all quha receivet him in lugeng and compelit Normond to flie 1598 James VI Basil. Doron. 145/4.
Suffer thaime not to medle uith the policie … in the pulpitte, but snibbe sikkerlie the first that mintis to it 1682 Lauder Observes 306.
This was interrupted by on … But he was soon snibed by another who said [etc.]transf. a1500 Lancelot of the Laik 3385.
As at the stok the bere Snybbyth the hardy houndis that ar ken(2) 1533 Boece 263.
The confederate princis … send to stop the flearis and hangit thame on gebettis to gif exempill to vtheris … Be this punycioun divers war snybbit fra flicht c1575 Balfour Pract. 657.
That the judges be sharp and austere to the advocatis, that thay use na frivole alledgeances, and snib thame thairfra, first be pecunial panis, and syne be deprivatioun 1622-6 Bisset II 61/3.
Snybe(3) 1567 Gude and Godlie Ballatis 76.
Quhen He was borne nane did Him snib, To ly rycht law in till ane crib

b. To suppress, put down (harmful activity, crime, vice, etc.); to repress, prevent (something desirable).(1) 1533 Boece 477.
He wald snyb that vice and abusioun, or it grew to mare 1533 Boece 527b.
Alexander … had drest him to repres and snyb the iniuris of the pepill a1578 Pitsc. I 290/32.
The governour past throw the contrie to snibe and dantoun all thift and reif 1582 Calderwood III 665.
The further proceeding in this dangerous practise sall be snibbed and cutt of 1592 Warrender P. (SHS) II 172.
Snyb away all ewill uses in your realme be your command 1596 Dalr. II 361/1.
She snibbit the hauiest offences of al men in that cuntrie and clenset the hail schire of all seditione 1598 Calderwood V 705.
Which corruptioun … is the more sharplie to be watched on and snibbed in tyme 1656 Hutton Session Bk. in Berw. Nat. C. VII 222.
The minister exhorted the elders that if they did sie any miscarriadges to snib them(2) 1622 Scot Course of Conformity 106.
That libertie, which … the iniquitie of the times have snibbed and holden in … shall now break forth without restraint

c. To check or suppress (growth). Also in fig. context. 1513 Doug. x Prol. 15.
Wyntir to snyb the erth with frosty schowris 1587-99 Hume 148/84.
The seed of sinne … which is naturallie sowen in all our hearts is snibbed and pressed down with trouble: But in time of prosperitie it ever springs vp 1624 Blair Autob. 63.
The corns were so thrown down … the growing thereon snibbed 1638 Henderson Serm. 123.
Hold down the weeds, and snib them, that so the good plants may grow & thrive

2. a. To rebuke, reprimand, reprove (a person) (of, fra, for wrongdoing, a fault). Also absol.(1) c1420 Wynt. v 584 (W).
His moder vsit him to repruf, And snyb him as vnkynd of luf 1572 Satirical Poems xxxiii 18.
My hands … ay reddy … To snib my children gif they did offend me 1585 Perth Kirk S. in Lawson Bk. Perth 162.
John Jack … to have ane whip … to snib … the bairns that break the glass windows 1592 Calderwood V 150.
To snib and confort the afflicted, as you find them nocent or innocentabsol. a1500 Buke of the Sevyne Sagis 1424.
Auld men scho said ar full cruell And quhylom will thai snyb full fell(2) c1420 Wynt. v 4965 (W).
Sanct Benet … snybbit this king of his syne 1551 Hamilton Catechism 63.
Thai that will nocht chasteis or snibe thair barnis fra lesingis [etc.] 1629 Reg. Privy C. 2 Ser. III 168.
[He] reprehended and snibbed thame … for thair … dissolute lyffe a1651 Calderwood VI 93.
If he would promise to snib the people, and reprove them for their rash … opinioun

b. To reprove (chiefly, wicked, conduct). 1560 Rolland Seven Sages 7547.
Gif ane doctour … reprufe vice … In the same vice he is gyltie … How sall he snib that vice with his honour? a1578 Pitsc. II 133/11.
My heart could nocht suffer me to come in the house quhair banning or sueiring was … bot wald snibe the same and schaw thame that law of God a1599 Rollock Wks. II 682.
He reproves them for their curiosity … the Lord here snibs and represses this curiosity in the apostles