snagn.1
/snaɡ/, U.S. /snæɡ/ 1. figurative.1824 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. 15 177 I shall make each of these important topics a head, or rather a snag, in my Pastoral Calendar.1857 Fraser's Mag. 56 357 A man who has many crotchets..must be a conglomeration of snags and snarls.
a. A short stump standing out from the trunk, or from a stout branch, of a tree or shrub, esp. one which has been left after cutting or pruning; †also, a fruiting spur.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > part of tree or woody plant > [noun] > bough or branch > spur or stump of branch or bud
stubc1405
snag1577
brunt1623
skeg1625
stud1657
argot1693
spur1704
stump1707
wood-bud1763
nog1802
branch-bud1882
knee1889
knee-process1889
dard1925
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [noun] > pruning or lopping > spur left in pruning
snag1577
argot1693
fruit-spur1823
1577–87 R. Holinshed Chron. (1808) IV. 644 Artificiallie made gates raised of ragged staues, and vpon euerie snag stood a small wax candle burning.
1596 E. Spenser Second Pt. Faerie Queene iv. vii. sig. F8v In his hand a tall young oake he bore, Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore. View more context for this quotation
1637 W. Camden Remaines (ed. 5) 420 An Ewtree with the Berries, and a great N. hanging upon a snag in the midst of the tree.
1674 J. Josselyn Acct. Two Voy. 138 They make their..fire near to a great Tree, upon the snags whereof they hang their kettles.
1731 P. Miller Gardeners Dict. I. at Ribes These Plants produce their Fruit..also upon small Snags which come out of the old Wood.
1791 W. Bartram Trav. N. & S. Carolina 89 Old weather-beaten trees, hoary and barbed, with the long moss hanging from their snags.
1811– in many dialect glossaries.
1856 ‘E. S. Delamer’ Flower Garden 167 Above all, do not leave a long snag to die down to the bud.
1898 F. W. Card Bush Fruits 363 The top being cut down in spring and the snag removed afterward.
b. A trunk or large branch of a tree imbedded in the bottom of a river, lake, etc., with one end directed upwards (and consequently forming an impediment or danger to navigation). Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > body of water > channel of water > [noun] > obstruction in > specific
planter1802
snag1807
rack-heap1850
tacouba1870
1807 P. Gass Jrnls. 31 About 12 one of the periogues run against a snag which broke a hole in it.
1818 T. Hulme Jrnl. 28 July in W. Cobbett Year's Resid. U.S.A. (1819) iii. 359 The wheels are made to work in the stern of the boat, so as not to come in contact with the floating trees, snaggs, planters,..&c.
1877 H. Dixon Diana, Lady Lyle iii. iii A snag, jammed in the stony bed, throws up a jet of water.
c. figurative. An impediment or obstacle. Also, a disadvantage, a hitch; a defect.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > [noun] > one who or that which hinders > a hindrance, impediment, or obstacle > unforeseen
snag1830
snagging1880
catch1919
joker1935
the mind > goodness and badness > inferiority or baseness > imperfection > [noun] > an imperfection > defect or fault or flaw > immaterial
default1340
vicec1386
craze1534
crack1570
flaw1586
tincturea1640
mole1644
shortness1644
snag1830
1830 J. Galt Lawrie Todd II. iv. ix. 73 I guess he's a snag in the Devil's way.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 4 Aug. 3/1 Our extradition treaty with the United States has run up against its first snag, to use an expression familiar on the Mississippi.
1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 8 I was continually running against some snag in the shape of an unwritten law.
1903 N.Y. Times 20 Oct. 1 A conference lasting three hours took place which was plain sailing until the last moment, when a snag was struck.
1923 P. G. Wodehouse Inimitable Jeeves vi. 66 At this point the scenario struck another snag.
1927 Evening Standard 8 July 1/1 But there is the usual ‘snag’. Severe thunderstorms were considered likely before we had become well accustomed to the sunshine.
1936 W. H. S. Smith Let. 26 Dec. in Young Man's Country (1977) ii. 48 The only snag..was that Grindlay's had failed to send my tickets to the U.S. Club.
1940 Economist 27 Jan. 142/2 Mr Gandhi referred to the ‘undoubted snags’ in Lord Linlithgow's statement, but a pre-requisite to tackling the ‘snags’ is a better spirit and some measure of confidence.
1945 C. H. Ward-Jackson It's a Piece of Cake (new ed.) 56 Snag, aircraft defect.
1950 J. Cannan Murder Included iii. 39 The house would be all right; the snag would be the skivvies.
1962 Daily Tel. 19 Nov. 22/5 (heading) Bonn Air Force finds snags in U.S. plane.
1977 B. Pym Quartet in Autumn v. 44 There had been a good deal of discussion..as to whether he should go by coach or by train and the advantages and snags of each method were endlessly weighed up.
d. North American. A standing dead tree.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > by growth or development > defined by habit > tree or woody plant > characterized by quality or health > [noun] > decayed or dead
dotterela1568
dotard1592
rampike1746
snag1904
1904 Dial. Notes 2 421 There was a big snag with a woodpecker's nest in it south of our house.
1936 Sun (Baltimore) 1 Aug. 11/1 Flames..have turned more than 30,000 acres of once-green forest into charred and smoldering snags.
1946 B. Macdonald Egg & I 94 Incredibly tall, spindly snags leaned threateningly towards me.
1960 M. Sharcott Place of Many Winds i. 14 The sun touched the hills behind us, lighting the dead white snags that so liberally sprinkled the live spruce.
1975 Islander (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 8 June 16/1 Osprey will choose a nest site atop a dead snag from which he can command a view of the habitat around him.
2.
a. A sharp, angular, or jagged projection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > [noun] > a projecting part > rough
scrag1567
snag1586
snub1590
snug1665
the world > space > shape > unevenness > projection or prominence > sharp unevenness > [noun] > a sharp prominence > uneven or accidental
snag1586
snub1590
tooth1612
rag1683
tit1884
1586 T. Bright Treat. Melancholie xxvi. 154 The rowells of the neckbone, with their snaggs hinder that inclination.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Barbelé,..full of snags, snips, iags.
1692 J. Ray Misc. Disc. v. 87 Hail-stones..like great pieces of Ice, with several Snags or Fangs issuing out of them.
1757 W. Wilkie Epigoniad ii. 37 A pond'rous mace..with snags around Of pointed steel.
1799 E. King Munimenta Antiqua I. 105 They [stone arrow-heads]..have snaggs, or as they are called beards on each side.
1817 W. Kirby & W. Spence Introd. Entomol. (1818) II. xxi. 220 The legs, as well as the head, having their little snags and knobs.
1863 S. Baring-Gould Iceland 103 Blowing snags and splinters [of lava] into cairnlike heaps all around.
b. A broken piece or stump of a tooth; a large or unshapely tooth.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > the body > digestive or excretive organs > digestive organs > mouth > types or spec. teeth > [noun] > broken or irregular
stumpc1430
snag1617
snag-tooth1655
snaggle-tooth1820
snaggle1823
spronk1838
snaggle-tusk1922
1617 J. Woodall Surgions Mate 17 Crowes bills..are only vsed to take hold of any snagg of a tooth.
1676 Poor Robins Intelligence 4 Apr. 1/2 As old folks when they have but a snag or two left pass for Children.
1717 M. Prior Alma ii. 428 In China none hold Women sweet, Except their Snags are black as Jett.
1792 J. Wolcot Wolves, Bear, in Wks. (1812) III. 74 It is the wish of many a beast, That you consent your teeth may all be pull'd; Damn me, if I would lose my snags, my Lords.
1829 W. S. Landor Imaginary Conversat. 2nd Ser. I. iii. 79 Their old snags will stick tight in them til they rattle in the coffin.
c. A tine or branch of a deer's horn, spec. one which is short or imperfectly developed.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > group Ruminantia (sheep, goats, cows, etc.) > male > [noun] > body and parts > antler > branch
antlera1398
startc1400
tinec1480
branch1484
advancer1486
knag1578
speer1607
spire1607
snag1673
tang1688
point1780
1673 J. Ray Observ. Journey Low-countries 27 The Horns have no Brow-Antlers, but only a broad palm with several Snags upon it.
1842 W. T. Brande Dict. Sci., Lit. & Art 319/2 The points between the notches are developed into long branches or snags, of which a single antler sometimes sends off as many as fourteen.
1872 H. A. Nicholson Man. Palæontol. 437 This extraordinary..species..having horns which have a snag in front.
3. dialect. A rent or tear, such as is made by a sharp projection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > tearing or tearing apart > [noun] > a tear
rent1525
tearing1607
tear1611
rip1673
screed1728
schism1767
skeg1839
snag1854
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 258 Snag, a rent at right angles.
Compounds
C1. attributive and in other combinations, as snag-toothed adj., snag-voyage.
ΚΠ
a1661 B. Holyday tr. Juvenal Satyres (1673) 138 What smith then toils so hard? Or who, that wool with snag-tooth'd wire does card?
1851 E. Cook Jrnl. VI. 100 A snag voyage up the yellow Missouri for some 400 miles, is no joke.
1895 I. Zangwill Master ii. vii The grotesque snag-toothed hags in the crowd.
C2.
snag-boat n. see quots.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel removing obstructions from river
snag-boat1832
snag-scow1907
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > mechanically propelled vessels > [noun] > propelled by steam engine > fitted to remove obstructions in rivers
snag-boat1832
1832 Reg. Deb. Congress U.S. (1833) 3 May 2722 The snag boat had been employed in improving the navigation of the Mississippi.
1858 P. L. Simmonds Dict. Trade Products Snag-boat, a steam-boat fitted with an apparatus for removing snags, or obstructions to navigation in rivers.
snag-pruning n. see quot.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > forestry or arboriculture > [noun] > pruning or lopping > other types of pruning
frondation1664
snag-pruning1823
spurring-in1829
spur pruning1842
spurring1844
notching1898
nicking1949
1823 E. Moor Suffolk Words at Snags That mode of pruning which leaves the snags is called snag-pruning, in distinction from close pruning.
snag-scow n. see quot.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > vessels with other specific uses > [noun] > vessel removing obstructions from river
snag-boat1832
snag-scow1907
1907 C. D. Stewart Partners of Providence xiii. 176 The white snag-scow..did keep the snags pulled out of the mouth of the Missouri anyway.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
snagn.2
Now dialect and rare.attributive.1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Spino, a sloe tree, a black-thorne, a snag tree.1606 F. Holyoake Dictionarium Etymologicum i, in Riders Dict. (new ed.) Spinus,..a blacke thorne, the snagge tree.1893 G. E. Dartnell & E. H. Goddard Gloss. Words Wilts. 149 Snag~bush, Prunus spinosa, the Sloe.
A sloe.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > cultivated or valued plants > particular food plant or plant product > particular types of fruit > [noun] > stone fruit > plum > sloe
sloec725
blackberry1567
cat-sloe1578
snag1578
hedge-peak1630
bull-plum1770
hedge-speak1847
winterpick1859
egg-peg1878
1578 H. Lyte tr. R. Dodoens Niewe Herball 719 The wilde Plummes are the least of al, and are called Slose, Bullies, and Snagges.
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Prunelle, a Sloe, or Snag.
1825 J. Jennings Observ. Dial. W. Eng. 70 Snags, small sloes.
1901 Longman's Mag. Feb. 363 'Twere made o' nought but the snags what grows in the hedges.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
snagn.3
dialect and rare.
A snail.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Triploblastica or Coelomata > class Gastropoda > [noun] > order Pulmonifera > Inoperculata > family Helicidae > member of
sneg1340
limacea1492
cochle?1527
house snail1562
shell-snail1600
hoddy-dod1601
land-winkle1601
hodmandod1626
snag1674
vine-snail1829
1674 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 77 A Snagge, a snail. Suss.
1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew Snaggs,..Snails.
1708 J. Kersey Dict. Anglo-Britannicum Snag,..In Sussex, a Snail. [Hence in Bailey, Grose, etc.]
1862 Lower in Athenæum 30 Aug. 281 When my occasional gardener talks of the ravages of ‘them snags’ on a peach-tree.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
snagn.4
/snaɡ/, U.S. /snæɡ/, Australian English /snæɡ/ Australian colloquial.
A sausage.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > food > dishes and prepared food > sausage > [noun]
pudding1287
saucister1347
sausage14..
sauserling1475
pota1500
gigot1553
isingc1560
gut-pudding1697
small goods1716
jegget1736
German duck1785
pud1828
dog1891
Zepp1915
Zeppelin1915
wors1923
snag1941
1941 S. J. Baker Pop. Dict. Austral. Slang 68 Snags, sausages.
1949 R. Park Poor Man's Orange 33 ‘Let's have sausages.’.. Good old snags. They were always there to be fallen back on.
1972 Sunday Mail Mag. (Brisbane) 26 Mar. 13/1 The dog had an uncanny capacity for nicking in to the butcher's shop, snatching a snag and getting out again.
1980 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 May 112/3 I make my own snags, my own pies and pasties. The Yanks love them after you've twisted their arms to try them.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
snagv.1
/snaɡ/, U.S. /snæɡ/ Now dialect.
intransitive. To carp, cavil, sneer, nag. Also const. at.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > criticize [verb (intransitive)] > captiously
apeluchier1340
pinchc1387
pick-fault1544
carp1548
cavil1548
snag1554
nibblea1591
catch1628
momize1654
niggle1796
nag1828
to pick on ——1864
snark1882
knock1892
nitpick1962
1554 J. Bradford Let. 8 Aug. in M. Coverdale Certain Lett. Martyrs (1564) 326 You are one of hys liuely stones: be contente therefore to be hewen and snagged at.
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 14 How much more then should ye beware of snagging and snarling at Gods secrets.
1806 A. Douglas Poems 121 Sic snaggin' an' braggin' An' randy-beggar jaw.
1839 G. C. Lewis Gloss. Words Herefordshire 96 To snag, to teaze, to repeat the same thing several times.
1866 J. E. Brogden Provinc. Words Lincs. Snag, to irritate or scold in an ‘aggravating’ manner.
Derivatives
ˈsnagging n.1
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > contempt > disapproval > criticism > [noun] > captious
plitchinga1400
carpingc1400
cavillation1532
pinching1532
nibbling?1577
Zoilism1609
carp1618
snagging1642
find-faulting1654
word-catching1713
pickthanking1861
kvetchingc1950
nitpicking1951
1642 D. Rogers Naaman 291 Let us..be so farre from snagging or nipping of such, that rather we marke them for peculiar ones.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
snagv.2
/snaɡ/, U.S. /snæɡ/ 1. transitive.
a. In passive: To be caught, pierced, or damaged by a snag. Chiefly U.S., and esp. of river-steamers.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > animal disease or disorder > disorders of horses > of horse: have disorder [verb (intransitive)] > be injured
spaula1425
stake1687
snag1807
to cap the hock1886
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hinder [verb (intransitive)] > be hindered > get or be caught on something
snag1807
snag1929
(a)
(b)1847 T. De Quincey Milton v. Southey & Landor in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Apr. 258/2 One does not altogether like being snagged by the Mississippi.1850 C. Lyell 2nd Visit U.S. (ed. 2) II. 267 I after~wards learnt, that in the course of her voyage she was snagged.1864 Daily Tel. 6 Apr. It is no light matter to be ‘snagged’ on a dark night in Virginia.(c)1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 211 Feeling no pull I started to haul my line in, but found I was snagged.1807 P. Gass Jrnls. 229 One of our best horses got snagged to day, and was left here.
b. figurative. To occupy or block as with a snag; to impede, to inconvenience. Also with up.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hinder [verb (intransitive)]
hinderc1386
to be (also get, stand, etc.) in one's way1481
to trump in (one's) way1570
to put in one's spoke1580
to put a spoke in one's wheel1583
to be (also get, stand, etc.) in the waya1750
snag1833
to cramp one's style1917
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hinder [verb (transitive)]
letc888
shrenchc897
forstanda1000
amarOE
disturbc1290
impeachc1380
stopc1380
withstandc1385
hinder1413
accloy1422
hindc1426
to hold abackc1440
appeachc1460
impeditec1535
inhibit1535
obstacle1538
damp1548
trip1548
embarrass1578
dam1582
to clip the wings ofa1593
unhelp1598
uppen1600
straiten1607
rub1608
impediment1610
impedea1616
to put out1616
to put off1631
scote1642
obstruct1645
incommodiate1650
offend1651
sufflaminate1656
hindrance1664
disassist1671
clog1679
muzzle1706
squeeze1804
to take the wind out of the sails of1822
throttle1825
block1844
overslaugh1853
snag1863
gum1901
slow-walk1965
1833 Polit. Examiner (Shelbyville, Kentucky) 22 June 4/1 I will agree to be shot with a paper wadding if there ar' room enough in the whole clearing for a man of ordinary parts to stand on five minutes at a time, without getting snagged by some tape and cotton yarn dealer in the street.
1863 W. Phillips Speeches iii. 38 A great mind, anchored in error, might snag the slow-moving current of society.
1929 B. Hall & J. J. Niles One Man's War 131 I decided to try clipping the German's tail with my propeller or snag him in some way.
1962 Guardian 19 Dec. 8/3 No place to work and insufficient funds..had snagged her.
1968 C. Burke Elephant across Border v. 193 He was going to do whatever he could to snag things up.
2.
a. To cut roughly, or so as to leave snags.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > cutting > cut [verb (transitive)] > cut roughly in order to damage
hacka1200
mangle1528
hackle1564
behack1565
to rip up1567
to cut upa1592
hash1591
bemangle1601
hagglea1616
hacker1807
snag1811
butch1834
1811 R. Willan in Archaeologia 17 158 Snag, to hew, or cut rudely with an axe, &c.
1812 J. J. Henry Accurate Acct. Campaign against Quebec 24 Blazing the trees and snagging the bushes with our tomahawks.
1840 Penny Cycl. XVIII. 216/2 Whether the branches..should be cut close to the stem at once,..or whether they should first be snagged.
b. To tear on or by a sharp projection.
ΘΚΠ
the world > existence and causation > creation > destruction > tearing or tearing apart > tear [verb (transitive)] > tear on or snag
snag1854
skeg-
1854 A. E. Baker Gloss. Northants. Words II. 258 I have snagged my gown.
1897 19th Cent. Feb. 242 My knicker~bockers and stockings were snagged to pieces by these hidden stumbling blocks.
3. To clear (a river, etc.) from snags.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > open [verb (transitive)] > open by freeing of obstruction > a river
snag1882
1882 S. A. Leech Let. in Law Rep.: Appeal Cases (1884) 9 429 I got much useful information from him..when snagging the river.
1889 N.Y. Times 21 July Both of these parties..are engaged in snagging the waterways.
4. North American.
a. To catch, get hold of, grab, steal, pick up. colloquial.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > possession > taking > stealing or theft > steal [verb (transitive)]
pick?c1300
takec1300
fetch1377
bribec1405
usurpc1412
rapc1415
to rap and rendc1415
embezzle1495
lifta1529
pilfer1532
suffurate1542
convey?1545
mill1567
prig1567
strike1567
lag1573
shave1585
knave1601
twitch1607
cly1610
asport1621
pinch1632
snapa1639
nap1665
panyar1681
to carry off1684
to pick up1687
thievea1695
to gipsy away1696
bone1699
make1699
win1699
magg1762
snatch1766
to make off with1768
snavel1795
feck1809
shake1811
nail1819
geach1821
pull1821
to run off1821
smug1825
nick1826
abduct1831
swag1846
nobble1855
reef1859
snig1862
find1865
to pull off1865
cop1879
jump1879
slock1888
swipe1889
snag1895
rip1904
snitch1904
pole1906
glom1907
boost1912
hot-stuff1914
score1914
clifty1918
to knock off1919
snoop1924
heist1930
hoist1931
rabbit1943
to rip off1967
to have off1974
the mind > possession > taking > seizing > seize [verb (transitive)]
gripea900
afangOE
to lay hands (or hand) on or upon (also in, to)OE
repeOE
atfonga1000
keepc1000
fang1016
kip1297
seize1338
to seize on or upon1399
to grip toc1400
rapc1415
to rap and rendc1415
comprise1423
forsetc1430
grip1488
to put (one's) hand(s) on (also in, to, unto, upon)1495
compass1509
to catch hold1520
hap1528
to lay hold (up)on, of1535
seisin?c1550
cly1567
scratch1582
attach1590
asseizea1593
grasp1642
to grasp at1677
collar1728
smuss1736
get1763
pin1768
grabble1796
bag1818
puckerow1843
nobble1877
jump1882
snaffle1902
snag1962
pull1967
1895 Dial. Notes 1 399 Snag, to steal.
1927 Amer. Speech 2 278/1 Snag a pick up, get a free ride.
1927 Amer. Speech 2 278/1 Snag the current, get the drift.
1930 D. Runyon in Collier's 1 Feb. 44/2 There is plenty of trouble over Lillian snagging her Peke.
1941 B. Appel in C. Grayson New Stories for Men 32 Red would snag a dollar or two out of me with a promise that I should take it out of his wages.
1946 M. Mezzrow & B. Wolfe Really Blues xii. 226 You didn't come of age on the welfare, snagging butts out of the gutter.
1962 J. Glenn in J. Glenn et al. Into Orbit 221 Two sailors reached over with a shepherd's hook to snag the capsule.
1966 L. J. Braun Cat who could read Backwards (1967) xiv. 160 I'll get to the club early and snag a quiet table.
1978 J. Carroll Mortal Friends v. i. 503 Colman and Janet did not snag each other with their eyes at the mention of the Ritz.
b. Sport. To catch or field (a ball); to receive (a pass).
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > types of sport or game > ball game > football > American football > play American football [verb (transitive)] > actions to ball
return1884
snap1887
drive1889
centre1895
to turn over1921
convert1932
lateral1932
snag1942
shovel pass1948
bootleg1951
squib1966
to take a (also the) knee1972
spike1976
1942 L. V. Berrey & M. Van den Bark Amer. Thes. Slang §679/5 Field a ball..snag the oval.
1968 Washington Post 4 July c1/3 (caption) Mantle was safe as Ron Hansen's throw, after snagging a line drive by Andy Kosco, was a trifle tardy.
1977 Time 30 May 40/2 In their place came players tailored to Big Bill's skills: quick, sure-handed guards to snag his crisp outlet passes and start the fast break rolling.
c. Angling. To catch (fish), spec. with a bare hook; to catch illicitly or improperly.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [verb (transitive)] > hook fish > catch with illegal hook
snag1946
1946 Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch 17 Mar. b11/2 When the herring are in in numbers, you snag a herring about every third or fourth attempt.
1960 Washington Post 11 Mar. d5 Unbelievable as it may sound, the herring are so thick at the height of the run that simply jerking a bare hook through the water will snag fish.
1974 Evening Herald (Rock Hill, S. Carolina) 18 Apr. 7/1 The largest striper of the first week of the 10 week-long derby went to Sumter's John Benenhaly who also used cut bait to snag a 26 pound, 8 ounce fish.
1979 Globe & Mail (Toronto) 7 Feb. 5/6 His six-man patrol is fed up with those who snag fish illegally.
5. intransitive.
a. To strike a snag, to get caught on a projection or obstacle.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > shipwreck > suffer shipwreck [verb (intransitive)] > be caught by tree, stump, etc.
snag1866
saddle-bag1878
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > hinder [verb (intransitive)] > be hindered > get or be caught on something
snag1807
snag1929
1866 Harper's Mag. Nov. 810/1 A Mississippi steamer, that snagged and went down on ‘Yazoo Bend’.
1929 W. Faulkner Sound & Fury 3 You snagged on that nail again. Cant you never crawl through here without snagging on that nail.
1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 262 He could neither see the thorn he had snagged on, nor the path by which to pull clear.
1976 M. Machlin Pipeline lv. 559 The rock itself..was some seventy-five yards from the ship, which apparently had snagged on an underwater rock projection some hundred feet down.
b. Of a fabric: to be rendered imperfect by a pulled thread.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > textiles > textile fabric or an article of textile fabric > textile fabric > [verb (intransitive)] > develop defects or irregularities
pill1955
snag1970
1970 Which? Oct. 300/2 A few brands suffered slightly from pilling..and several of the Crimplene ones snagged.
6. The verb-stem in combinations, as (sense 4c) snag-fishing, snag-hook, snag-line.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > [noun] > fishing by illicit means
pointing1860
ottering1890
snag-fishing1936
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > type or method of fishing > [noun] > using illegal hooks
stroke-hauling1860
snag-fishing1936
the world > food and drink > hunting > fishing > fishing-tackle > fishing-line > [noun] > illicit line
scrouger1897
snatch1899
snag-line1936
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
1936 Sun (Baltimore) 8 July 8/6 They..charged all three with using snag lines and snag hooks with intent to do bodily harm to the aforesaid sturgeon.
1952 B. Harwin Home is Upriver viii. 86 He could get an old gasboat somewhere, cheap, some fishhooks and lines enough for snag-fishing.
1952 B. Harwin Home is Upriver x. 99 Kip and Lenny fished: snaglines and bushlines.
1960 Washington Post 11 Mar. d5 A snag hook is a huge treble hook which can be fished from either a rod or hand. Usually two or three are tied to a strong line (chalk line is a favorite), a singer is attached and the whole shebang is cast into the drink and retrieved in a series of short jerks.
Derivatives
ˈsnagging n.2
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being open or not closed > [noun] > action or process of opening > opening by removing obstruction > clearing (a river) of obstructions
snagging1775
the world > action or operation > difficulty > hindrance > [noun] > one who or that which hinders > a hindrance, impediment, or obstacle > unforeseen
snag1830
snagging1880
catch1919
joker1935
1775 in J. J. Henry Campaign against Quebec (1812) 53 The paths and carrying places we had sufficiently developed..by strong blazing and snagging of bushes.
1851 A. O. Hall Manhattaner 179 There may sometimes occur a snagging, or a fire, with perhaps a collision.
1874 2nd Rep. Vermont State Board Agric. 1873–4 550 The stumps are rotting, and it is nearly ready for the..work of snagging and bogging.
1880 ‘M. Twain’ Tramp Abroad I. 83 He..had gone to bed, with his head filled with impending snaggings, and explosions, and conflagrations.
1960 Washington Post 11 Mar. d5/1 They're [sc. herrings] caught mostly by dipnets and the gentle method known as snagging.
1980 Outdoor Life (U.S.) Oct. (Northeast ed.) 56/2 Because Pacific Coast salmon die after spawning, snagging was introduced as a sporting way to harvest huge numbers of fish in a short time.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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