[1580–90; ‹ D snaphaan (or G Schnapphahn) orig., highwayman, equiv. to snap(pen) to snatch, snap + haan rooster (D haan, G Hahn, parallel to cock1, mean both “rooster” and “hammer of a firearm”); source of final s unclear]This word is first recorded in the period 1580–90. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: classical, critical, motor, piggyback, reference