Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1971 (SND Vol. VIII). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1896, 1977-1997
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SNITTER, v., n.1 Also snuitter. [′snitər]
I. v. To laugh in a suppressed manner, to giggle, snigger (Fif. 1825 Jam., snuitter s.v. snuister; s.Sc. a.1838 Jam. MSS. XI. 172; Ayr., s.Sc. 1971). Also in Eng. dial.Ayr. 1896 G. Umber Idylls 71:
Hoo her words should provoke sae muckle snitterin' an' lauchin'.wm.Sc. 1977 William McIlvanney Laidlaw (1985) 177:
He snittered at himself and rinsed out his mouth. Edb. 1997:
Whit's she sittin in the coarner snitterin fur?
II. n. A snigger, a suppressed laugh (Fif. 1825 Jam., s.v. snuister).Edb. 1997:
She gave a wee snitter.
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"Snitter v., n.1". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 7 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/snitter_v_n1>
