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: 1837-1920
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SNUFF, n.3 Sc. usage of Eng. snuff, the ash of a burnt candle-wick: a rage, a huff, a fit of indignation. Now obs. in Eng. Deriv. snuffie, -y, sulky, touchy, huffily displeased, apt to take offence (ne., wm.Sc., Wgt., Rxb. 1971). Also in Eng. dial. Comb. snuffie-like, id. (Cld. 1825 Jam.). Adv. snuffilie (Ib.). Deriv. snuffiness, sulkiness (Ib.).wm.Sc. 1837 Laird of Logan 247:
He stood still for a moment, looking very snuffy-like.Sc. 1886 Stevenson Kidnapped iii.:
Dinnae fly up in the snuff at me.Abd. 1898 J. M. Cobban Angel xi.:
The mighty high snuff and dudgeon ye gaed aff wi.Gsw. 1920 F. Niven Tale that is told xii.:
His is the only banter I fall snuffy over.
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"Snuff n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 11 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snuff_n3>
