Also 6–7 snafle, snaffel (6 -ell, -ul). [Of doubtful origin: connection with (M)Du. and (M)LG. snavel (late OFris. snavel, snaul, WFris. snaffel mouth), OHG. snapal (MHG. snabel, G. schnabel), beak, bill, mouth, is not clear; but cf. the use of G. schnabel for a forked instrument used in training hunting-dogs to keep the head up.]
1. A simple form of bridle-bit, having less restraining power than one provided with a curb.
1533. Frith, Another Bk. agst. Rastell, A vj b. I verye well lyken yow to him that hath a wilde horse to tame,… when he perceueth that he can not holde him with a scottyshe snafle.
1577. B. Googe, Heresbach’s Husb., I. (1586), 15 b. Geue a Horse the whip, an Asse the snaffell, and a Foole the rodde.
c. 1618. Moryson, Itin., IV. i. (1903), 48. Their bridles are like our snafles but commonly sett with Copper studds guilded.
1686. Plot, Staffordsh., 377. They make also great variety of bridles, both Snaffles and Bitts: such as the wheel and joynted Snaffle, the neck-Snaffle [etc.].
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. 252/1. They are rid generally in a snaffle, without spurs.
1833. Regul. Instr. Cavalry, I. 75. Great care must be taken not to press the horse too suddenly up to the snaffle by showing the whip.
1882. B. D. W. Ramsay, Rough Recoll., I. v. 95. Finding [the horse] … would bear no pressure on his mouth, I at last tried him with a plain light snaffle.
b. fig. or in fig. contexts.
1542. Brinklow, Compl., xii. (1874), 28. This were a good snafful for the tyrannes and oppressers.
1579. North, Plutarch (1896), V. 168. Rome also not being used to be brideled with the snaffle of such insolencie.
1639. Fuller, Holy War, III. xxvii. (1840), 167. Being a place of such importance, it would always be a snaffle in the mouth of the Egyptian king.
1679. Alsop, Melius Inq., II. v. 264. The Ἄνομος or Lawless person, who has a curb for every mans Conscience, but will not endure a snaffle upon his own.
1813. Moore, Post-bag, i. 49. His Lordship proposes ‘The new Veto-snaffle to bind down their noses.’
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., II. vii. Give your own passions the curb, and allow mine the snaffle.
c. To ride (one) in, on, or with the snaffle, to rule easily, to guide with a light hand.
1577. Holinshed, Chron., Hist. Scotl., I. 249. I perceyue this man will neuer obey my commaundements, till he be rydden with a snaffle.
1593. Nashe, Christ’s T., To Rdr. Ile … ride him with a snaffle vp & down the whole realme.
a. 1668. Lassels, Voy. Italy (1670), II. 281. Such a wanton Courser as Naples is not to be ridden with snaffles.
1844. Ld. Ashburton, in Croker P. (1884), III. xxiii. 18. As old Hunt said of Manners Sutton as Speaker, he rode them in a snaffle.
1904. Benson, Challoners, i. The world has begun … to ride life on the snaffle instead of the curb.
2. attrib. and Comb., as snaffle-bit, -bridle, -rein; snaffle-bridled, -mouthed adjs.
1576. Gascoigne, Steele Gl., Philomene (Arb.), 90. A snaffle Bit or brake, Bebost with gold.
1668. Lond. Gaz., No. 272/4. He took away with her a deep skirted Saddle … and a snaffle Bridle.
1814. Earl Dudley, Lett., 7 May (1840), 35. There is no riding the French in a snaffle-bridle.
1856. ‘Stonehenge,’ Brit. Rural Sports, 395/1. I have never yet ridden a snaffle-bridled horse comfortably through a run.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., xv. An old worsted bell-rope formed the snaffle-rein of his bridle.
1862. H. H. Dixon, Scott & Sebright, IV. 308. Early in the ensuing year, Becher was again on the snaffle-mouthed Grimaldi.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2228/2. Price’s bridle-bit, March 26, 1867, combines the snaffle-bit with a lever-bar.
