Middle English Dictionary Entry
sniffen v.
Entry Info
Forms | sniffen v. |
Etymology | Prob. ON: cp. ODan. snive, snippe, Norw. dial. snippa, Swed. dial. snifsa; ?back formation from ME snivelen v. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
To sniffle, sniff.
Associated quotations
- c1350 Cmb.Ee.4.20.Nominale (Cmb Ee.4.20)88 : Homme nause et nassie: M. snyffyth and snyuelith.
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)39 : She snyffith, sighith, and shooke hire hede and made rouful chere.
- a1475 Russell Bk.Nurt.(Hrl 4011)284 : Pike not youre nose..Snyff nor snitynge hyt to lowd lest youre souerayne hit here.