sneckn.1
/snɛk/, U.S. /snɛk/, Scottish English /snɛk/ Chiefly Scottish and northern dialect.
1.
a. The latch of a door or gate; the lever which raises the bar of a latch; †a catch (cf. 2a).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > parts of door > [noun] > door fittings > devices for securing door
pinlOE
door-pina1300
door-bar13..
sneck1324
clicket-lock1342
haggaday1353
stecklea1400
slotec1440
rance1574
door-latch1678
door-locka1684
steeple1722
box staple1778
door-chain1836
chain1839
safety chain1845
door-catch1897
night chain1904
α.
β. 1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 104 When click! the string the snick did draw.1889 A. Munro Siren Casket 169 He raised the snick Of Allan's cottage door.1324 Accts. Exchequer King's Remembrancer (P.R.O.: E101/165/1) m. 4 Pro xxviij snekkes cum xxviij stapulis ad tenendum trendles ligni pro springaldis tendendis.
1419 in J. T. Fowler Memorials Church SS. Peter & Wilfrid, Ripon (1888) III. 147 Et in j snek ad ostium pulpiti, 1d.
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 461/2 Snekke, or latche, clitorium, pessulum.
a1500 (a1460) Towneley Plays (1994) I. xiii. 139 Mak. Good wyff, open the hek!.. Vxor. I may thole the dray the snek.
1530 J. Palsgrave Lesclarcissement 272/1 Sneke, latche, locquet, clicquette.
1560 Extr. Burgh Rec. Peebles (1872) 258 To vphald substantiousle thair portis in..stapillis, snekkis and all irne graith necessare.
1600 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 133 For mending the North church gate, and also an iron sneck.
1638 in J. Barmby Churchwardens' Accts. Pittington (1888) 302 A snecke for the ministers sette.
c1725 in J. J. Vernon Parish of Hawick (1900) 80 Paid for 2 Snecks for Quire doore.
1770 P. Forbes Jrnls. Episcopal Visitations (1886) 303 Any one, by Night or by Day, can lift the Sneck and come in.
1816 W. Scott Antiquary III. iii. 70 The sneck was drawn, and the Countess..entered my dwelling.
1853 G. J. Cayley Las Alforjas II. 216 Sometimes the demons will undo the sneck of the gate.
1885 J. Runciman Skippers & Shellbacks 50 The old man lifted the ‘sneck’ quickly and caught us.
b. to draw a sneck, to act cunningly or stealthily.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > ability > skill or skilfulness > cunning > be cunning or act cunningly [verb (intransitive)]
havilonc1400
trantc1400
to draw a snecka1500
craft1530
to play (the) fox1599
politize1623
art1637
to have a sheep's eye1711
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > secrecy, concealment > stealthy action, stealth > be stealthy [verb (intransitive)] > act stealthily
to draw a snecka1500
underwork1504
to clandestine it1656
hugger-mugger1862
a1500 in Ratis Raving 89 Thar word is fyrst in awdiens, With fenȝeand falsat ay reddy To draw a snek rycht subtely.
1786 R. Burns Poems & Songs (1968) I. 242 I ken, he weel a snick can draw, When simple bodies let him.
c. on the sneck, latched. So off the sneck.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with tools or equipment > fastening > [adjective] > (un)latched
on the sneck1823
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [phrase] > partly open (of doors, etc.)
on (upon) the jar1674
off the latch1842
off the sneck1897
1823 W. Scott St. Ronan's Well III. ii. 31 I'se warrant it a twa-handed ghaist, and the door left on the sneck.
1893 R. L. Stevenson Catriona xv. 167 The door was on the sneck that day.
1897 S. R. Crockett Lads' Love iv. 43 Then..leave the lang window o' the ben room off the sneck, after the lairds are awa'.
2. technical.
a. A catch or device for holding the lever of a spinning-machine.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile manufacture > manufacture of thread or yarn > [noun] > spinning > machine > parts of
knave1564
porcupine roller1776
catch box1809
jack-frame1814
Jack-in-the-box1814
flyer frame1825
sneck1825
thread-wire1825
creel1835
fly-frame1835
self-actor1835
trumpet-mouth1835
counter-faller1836
Jack1875
trumpet1877
back-shaft1879
builder1884
pot-eye1884
twizzle1884
rice creel1895
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 426 When in geer they [i.e. levers] are held firm by the sneck.
1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 426 The machine is put in motion by raising the main lever into the sneck by hand.
b. (See quot. 1883.)
ΚΠ
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 229 Snecks, appliances for diverting wagons from the main line into a siding.
3. dialect or technical in various senses (see quots.).
ΚΠ
1810 S. Smith Agric. Surv. Galloway 86 Besides the improvement of locked tops [in stone walls], he invented also snecks or hudds, i.e. spaces built single at short intervals.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Sneck, a small piece or tongue of land, abutting on or intersecting an adjoining field.
1883 W. S. Gresley Gloss. Terms Coal Mining 229 Sneck, a carving [= air-way].
Compounds
C1. General attributive.The Eng. Dial. Dict. contains a number of other examples.
sneck-fastening n.
ΚΠ
1844 H. Stephens Bk. of Farm I. 204 10 Pairs of crooks and bands for feeding-holes. 10 Sneck-fastenings for ditto.
sneck-lock n.
ΚΠ
1570 in J. Raine Wills & Inventories N. Counties Eng. (1835) I. 312 I do geve vnto An Jaxssonn one woode Cheast which haithe a sneck locke.
C2.
sneck-band n. (see quot. 1828).
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > parts of door > [noun] > door fittings > devices for securing door > latch-string
sneck-band14..
draw latch1614
sneck-string1758
latch-string1791
14.. in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 733 Hec mastiga, a snek~bank [? read -band]. Hic gumfus, a dorbande.
1828 W. Carr Dial. Craven (ed. 2) Sneck-band, the string fastened to the latch, and passed through a hole to the outside of the door.
1855 E. Waugh Sketches Lancs. Life 106 The door is still opened from without by a ‘sneck-bant’.
sneck-bend n. a form of fish-hook (see quots.).
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > hook > [noun] > other types of hook
pin-hook1755
Kirby1804
Limerick1810
sneck-bend1816
Limerick1835
sniggle1837
Aberdeen1845
Aberdeen hook1846
sockdolager1848
Sproat bend1867
squid-jigger1875
Sproat1876
squid jig1883
snag-hook1936
1816 G. C. Bainbridge Fly Fisher's Guide 31 The Sneckbend, as it is commonly called, diverges from the parallel lines from the bend upwards.
1856 ‘Stonehenge’ Man. Brit. Rural Sports i. v. ii. 235 Many Scotchmen use what is called the sneckbend, differing slightly from both of the above [hooks], in being made of a more square shape.
sneck posset n. a cold reception or greeting; a discharge or dismissal.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > behaviour > bad behaviour > discourtesy > [noun] > unpleasant greeting or welcome
welcome1548
Jack Drum's entertainment1577
unwelcoming1838
sneck posset1876
the frozen mitt1903
unwelcome1912
1876 J. Richardson Cummerland Talk 2nd Ser. 65 A sneck posset I gat.
1885 H. Caine Shadow of Crime 8 He had his own reasons for not quitting Wythburn after he had received his very unequivocal ‘sneck posset’.
sneck-string n. a sneck-band.
ΘΚΠ
society > inhabiting and dwelling > inhabited place > a building > parts of building > window or door > parts of door > [noun] > door fittings > devices for securing door > latch-string
sneck-band14..
draw latch1614
sneck-string1758
latch-string1791
1758 W. Reckitt Jrnl. (1799) 59 They did not so much as pull in their sneck-string when they went to bed and had neither lock nor bar.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
sneckn.2
Scottish.
A sharp cut; a snick or snip.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > [noun] > a cut or incision
garse?c1225
chinea1387
slit1398
incisionc1400
slivingc1400
raising?a1425
scotchc1450
racec1500
tranchec1500
kerf?1523
hack1555
slash1580
hew1596
raze1596
incutting1598
slisha1616
scar1653
lancementa1655
slap1688
slip1688
nick1692
streak1725
sneck1768
snick1775
rut1785
sliver1806
overcut1874
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess ii. 84 The gully..may chance to gee's a sneck into the hand.
1814 W. Scott Waverley II. xviii. 273 If there's a pair of sheers in the Highlands that has a baulder sneck than hers ain. View more context for this quotation
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
sneckn.3
A sharp clicking sound. Cf. snick n.3
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > sharp or hard sound > [noun] > click
click1611
clicking1660
click-clack1756
sneck1851
snicking1893
snick1894
heel clicking1915
plock1936
snick-snack1970
1851 M. Reid Scalp Hunters I. iv. 37 Back went the girth buckles with a ‘sneck’.
1861 A. Leighton Curious Storied Trad. Sc. Life 2nd Ser. 116 An industrious house too, wherein the birr of the wheel and the sneck of the reel had sounded.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
sneckv.1
/snɛk/, U.S. /snɛk/, Scottish English /snɛk/ Chiefly Scottish and northern dialect.
1.
a. transitive. To latch (a door or gate); to close or fasten with or by means of a sneck.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > close (a door, window, etc.) > bolt, bar, or lock
sparc1175
pena1200
louka1225
bara1300
shutc1320
lockc1325
clicketc1390
keyc1390
pinc1390
sneckc1440
belocka1450
spare?c1450
latch1530
to lock up1549
slot1563
bolt1574
to lock to?1575
double-lock1594
stang1598
obserate1623
padlock1722
button1741
snib1808
chain1839
c1440 Promptorium Parvulorum 284/2 Latchyn, or snekkyn, pessulo.
1560 in A. Macdonald & J. Dennistoun Misc. Maitland Club (1843) III. ii. 239 The deponar..fand the dur snecked and vnbarred and sche barred the dur.
1674 J. Ray N. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 43 Snock [1691 Sneck] the door: Latch the door.
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 36 Sae out she slips, an' snecks the door behind.
1868 G. MacDonald Robert Falconer I. 175 Sneck the door, laddie.
1889 Carlisle Patriot 1 Mar. (E.D.D.) If the gate had been snecked, the cattle could not have got on the line.
b. To lock or shut up. In quot. 1816 figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > close or shut [verb (transitive)] > shut or lock (a person or thing) in or out
inseil?a1000
bespara1100
loukc1275
sparc1430
spare?c1450
to shut inc1460
to lock out1599
occlude1623
inbolt1632
to bolt out, in, upa1653
sneck1816
sport1825
the mind > language > malediction > oaths > [verb (transitive)] > euphemisms for stronger oaths > for the devil
snick1599
sneck1816
sneak-up1855
1816 W. Scott Antiquary II. xiv. 334 The secrets of grit folk..are just like the wild beasts that are shut up in cages. Keep them hard and fast snecked up, and it's a' very weel.
c. intransitive. Of a door or gate: To latch, shut.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > closed or shut condition > become closed or shut [verb (intransitive)] > become closed (of a door, window, etc.)
shut1470
steeka1500
to fall to1565
sneck1871
to shut to1912
1871 J. H. Ewing Timothy's Shoes in Brownies (new ed.) 107 The gate opened for them and snecked after them.
1889 Ld. Tennyson Demeter & other Poems 32 I'd cleär forgot..thy chaumber door wouldn't sneck.
2. transitive. (See quot. 1808.) Scottish.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > building or constructing > surfacing or cladding > clad or cover [verb (transitive)] > fill in gaps
stop1388
beamfill1469
stuff1601
caulk1616
run1657
strike1668
fog1678
chinse1770
sneck1792
darn1801
pug1820
chink1822
grout1838
fillet1843
gallet1851
slush1875
putty1879
spackle1950
1792 J. Sinclair Statist. Acct. Scotl. II. 534 Farm-houses and Cottages.—..A very few of them have been stob-thatched, or covered with a deep coat of straw,—and snecked or harled with lime.
1808 J. Jamieson Etymol. Dict. Sc. Lang. To sneck with lime, to make indentations in a wall, filling the blanks with lime; or, in building, to insert a small quantity between the stones in the outer side.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
sneckv.2
/snɛk/, U.S. /snɛk/, Scottish English /snɛk/ Scottish.
transitive. To cut (off).
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > wholeness > mutual relation of parts to whole > separation > separation or detachment > detach [verb (transitive)] > cut off
becarveOE
carvec1000
hewc1000
shredc1275
cuta1300
chapc1325
cleavec1330
off-shearc1330
withscore1340
to cut offc1380
colea1400
slivea1400
to score awayc1400
abscisea1500
discidea1513
sharea1529
off-trenchc1530
off-hewc1540
pare1549
detrench1553
slice?1560
detrunk1566
sneck1578
resect1579
shred1580
curtail1594
off-chop1594
lop?1602
disbranch1608
abscind1610
snip1611
circumcise1613
desecate1623
discerpa1628
amputate1638
absciss1639
prescind1640
notch1820
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > cut [verb (transitive)]
snithec725
carvec1000
cutc1275
slitc1275
hag1294
ritc1300
chop1362
slash1382
cut and carvea1398
flash?a1400
flish?a1400
slenda1400
race?a1425
raise?a1425
razea1425
scotch?c1425
ochec1440
slitec1450
ranch?a1525
scorchc1550
scalp1552
mincea1560
rash?1565
beslash1581
fent1589
engrave1590
nick1592
snip1593
carbonado1596
rescide1598
skice1600
entail1601
chip1609
wriggle1612
insecate1623
carbonate1629
carbonade1634
insecta1652
flick1676
sneg1718
snick1728
slot1747
sneck1817
tame1847
bite-
1578 J. Rolland Seuin Seages 103 He tuik hir be the nek, And with ane knife hir heid he did of snek.
1817 W. Scott Rob Roy III. v. 140 Do the folk think I hae another thrapple in my pouch after John Highlandman's sneckit this ane wi' his joctaleg?
1835 J. D. Carrick Laird of Logan (1854) 156 Mony a ane o' my acquaintances hae gotten the thread o' life sneckit.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
sneckv.3
Now dialect.
transitive. To snatch; to take or seize quickly.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > seize [verb (transitive)] > quickly or hurriedly
nipa1500
snatch1530
snap1550
snatch1555
snatch1563
snip1577
sneck1608
snapa1639
snap1673
snaffle1895
1608 T. Middleton Your Fiue Gallants sig. B3 Pursn. Her Chaine of Pearle. Boy. I sneckt it away finely.
1873 A. G. Murdoch Lilts on Doric Lyre 43 When rent day comes ye're unca fain To look us up an' sneck the siller.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
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