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.
Quotation dates: 1663-1700+
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Snip, n. [e.m.E. snip(pe (1558), snypp (1562), LG snip(pe.] A small piece, specif. a. A small white or light-coloured marking on a horse, a snip. b. A small piece (of paper). c. pl. ? A share. Also to go snips, to share.a. 1663 Haddington B. Rec. (Robb) 19 May.
Ane bay gelding with ane snip on his foreheid 1686 Reg. Privy C. 3 Ser. XIII 66.
Ane [horse] … with ane snip one the face 1694 Boharm Kirk S. 17 June.
The said mare is mouse colloured … with ane whyt snip betwixt her nosethirsles 1696 14th Rep. Hist. MSS App. iii 81.
Two geldings, on of them … with a snip down the faceb. 1719 Bk. Carlaverock II 304.
I take this little snip of paper to acknowlege the favour of your most welcome letterc. a1700 Mare of Colinton 609.
I leave my liver, puds and tripes To the twa brethren in the snipes — c1675 Bk. Pasquils 225.
Newbyth heretofor went snips with the peats — 1684 Lauder Observes 130.
He went snips with them who wrung that money from the poor peeple
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"Snip n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 20 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/dost/snip_n>
