Also 6–7 snagge, 8–9 snagg. [prob. of Scand. origin: cf. Norw. dial. snag sharp point, projection, stump, spike, etc., also snage in the same senses = Icel. snagi peg. The stem is also found in OIcel. snag-hyrndr, said of an axe having a sharp point. For the retention of g in the English word cf. FLAG sb.2]
1. 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.
1577–87. Holinshed, Chron. (1808), IV. 644. Artificiallie made gates raised of ragged staues, and vpon euerie snag stood a small wax candle burning.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., IV. vii. 7. In his hand a tall young oake he bore, Whose knottie snags were sharpned all afore.
1623. Camden, Rem. (1637), 420. An Ewtree with the Berries, and a great N. hanging upon a snag in the midst of the tree.
1674. Josselyn, Voy. New Eng., 138. They make their … fire near to a great Tree, upon the snags whereof they hang their kettles.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Ribes, These Plants produce their Fruit … also upon small Snags which come out of the old Wood.
1791. W. Bartram, Carolina (1792), 87. Old weather-beaten trees, hoary and barbed, with the long moss waving from their snags.
1811–. in many dialect glossaries.
1856. Delamer, Fl. Garden (1860), 167. Above all, do not leave a long snag to die down to the bud.
1898. Card, Bush Fruits, 363. The top being cut down in spring and the snag removed alterward.
fig. 1824. Blackw. Mag., XV. 177. I shall make each of these important topics a head, or rather a snag, in my Pastoral Calendar.
1857. Fraser’s Mag., LVI. 357/2. A man who has many crotchets. He must be a conglomeration of snags and snarls.
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). Orig. U.S.
1807. P. Gass, Jrnl., 31. About 12 one of the periogues run against a snag which broke a hole in it.
1817–8. Cobbett, Resid. U.S. (1822), 294. 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, III. iii. A snag, jammed in the stony bed, throws up a jet of water.
c. fig. An impediment or obstacle.
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., IV. ix. 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 Amer., 8. I was continually running against some snag in the shape of an unwritten law.
2. A sharp, angular or jagged projection.
1586. T. Bright, Treat. Melancholy, xxvi. 149. The rowels of the neckbone with their snagges hinder that inclination.
1611. Cotgr., Barbelé,… full of snags, snips, iags.
1692. Ray, Disc., II. ii. (1732), 102. Hailstones … like great pieces of Ice with several Snags or fangs issuing out of them.
1757. Wilkie, Epigoniad, II. (1769), 28. A ponderous mace … with snags around Of pointed steel.
1799. E. King, Mun. Antiqua, I. 105. They [stone arrow-heads] … have snaggs, or as they are called beards on each side.
1817. Kirby & Spence, Entomol., xxi. (1818), II. 220. The legs, as well as the head, having their little snags and knobs.
1863. 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.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 11. Crowes bils … are only used to take hold of any snag of a tooth.
1676. Poor Robin’s Intell., 4 April, 1/2. As old folks when they have but a snag or two left pass for Children.
1717. Prior, Alma, II. 428. In China none hold Women sweet, Except their Snags are black as Jett.
1792. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Wolves, Bear, etc. 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.
1825–. in many dial. glossaries (esp. of south-western counties).
1829. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1853, I. 375/2. Their old snags will stick tight in them till they rattle in the coffin.
c. A tine or branch of a deer’s horn, spec. one which is short or imperfectly developed.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low C., 27. The Horns have no Brow-Antlers, but only a broad palm with several Snags upon it.
1842. Brande, Dict. Arts, s.v. Deer, 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, Palæont., 437. This extraordinary … species … having horns which have a snag in front.
3. dial. A rent or tear, such as is made by a sharp projection.
1854. Miss Baker, Northampt. Gloss., Snag. A rent at right angles.
4. attrib. and Comb., as snag-toothed adj., -voyage; snag-boat, -pruning, -scow (see quots.).
a. 1661. Holyday, Juvenal (1673), 138. What smith then toils so hard? Or who, that wool with snag-tooth’d wire does card?
1823. E. Moor, Suffolk Words, s.v. Snags, That mode of pruning which leaves the snags is called snag-pruning, in distinction from close pruning.
1851. Eliza Cook, Jrnl., VI. 100. A snag voyage up the yellow Missouri for some 400 miles, is no joke.
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Snag-boat, a steam-boat fitted with an apparatus for removing snags, or obstructions to navigation in rivers.
1895. Zangwill, Master, II. vii. 235. The grotesque snag-toothed hags in the crowd.
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.
