Also 6 snappe, snoppe, 7 snapp. [app. ad. MDu. or MLG. snappen (so mod.Du. and LG.; Fris. snappe), = MHG. snappen (G. schnappen); Da. snappe, Sw. snappa are also from LG. The stem is prob. based on that of MHG. snaben, MLG. snaven, of similar meaning; cf. MHG. snabel, MLG. snavel beak, bill.]
I. 1. intr. Of animals: To make a quick or sudden bite at something; to feed on in this way.
1530. Palsgr., 723/2. I snappe at a thyng to catche it with my tethe. Ibid. His horse snapped at myne arme.
c. 1592. Marlowe, Jew of Malta, V. ii. (1633), I 3. Like the Asse … That labours with a load of bread and wine, And leaues it off to snap on Thistle tops.
1648. Cleveland, Midsummer-moone, 2. This makes the mad bandog snap at all hee meets.
a. 1653. Gouge, Comm. Hebr. iii. 13 (1655), 373. All the devices of sinne are as fair baits, whereby dangerous hooks are covered over to entice silly fish to snap at them.
1710. Addison, Tatler, No. 120, ¶ 3. A little Lap-Dog, that barked and snapped at every one.
1832. W. Irving, Alhambra, II. 209. The seven dogs yelling and barking, and leaping up, and snapping at the heels of the terrified friar.
1875. W. S. Hayward, Love agst. World, 14. The fox turns and snaps viciously at his relentless pursuer.
fig. 1597. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., III. ii. 357. If the young Dace be a Bayt for the old Pike, I see no reason, in the Law of Nature, but I may snap at him.
b. Without const.
1555. Eden, Decades (Arb.), 236. The hounde … approcheth so neare hym snappynge and grynnynge.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., XI. xxv. 152. As when a gentle greyhound set around With little curres, which dare his way molest, Snapping behinde.
1692. L’Estrange, Fables, cclxxxv. 249 (J.). It is the Nature of All sorts of Mungril Curs, to Bawl, Snarle, and Snap.
1858. O. W. Holmes, Aut. Breakf.-t., viii. Settle snapping-turtles snap … before they are out of the egg-shell.
fig. 1589. Nashe, Martin Marprelate, Wks. (Grosart), I. 122. The Preachers of the faction … begin to snappe and to turne.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, IX. i. Never mind, my chick,… more to be had; if one won’t snap, another will.
1884. Kendal Mercury, 3 Oct., 5/2. All the newspapers abroad have been set a-barking and snapping, big dogs and little dogs alike.
2. To utter sharp, tart, or cutting words or remarks; to speak or reply irritably or abruptly. Usu. with at.
1579. L. Tomson, Calvin’s Serm. Tim., 1002/1. By this word, he snappeth at them which haue their eyes so dazeled with these flitting thinges.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., To Rdr. Let him confute the maine plot … and not snap and cavil onely at some particulars in it.
1666. Wood, Life (O.H.S.), II. 89. Dr. Fell … snapt up and told me ‘I should pay [etc.].’ Ibid., III. 428 (1693), 13 July. He would not suffer him to speak for snapping and snarling.
1786. trans. Beckford’s Vathek (1868), 68. He was afraid of being snapped at by Shaban his tutor.
1825. E. Hewlett, Cottage Comforts, xii. 193. They humour the child till they are out of patience with him, and then snap at him.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., xxiv. 286. Every now and then speaking a word, and restraining himself from snapping at his rival.
b. trans. To utter (words) in an angry, sharp, or peevish manner or tone.
1683. Villiers (Dk. Buckhm.), Rehearsal, I. i. (ed. 4), 6. Whereupon I presently snapt this upon her; Non, non, Madam [etc.].
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour (1893), 297. ‘You can’t know all about it!’ snapped Mr. Sponge.
1884. Browning, Family, 36. The next in age snapped petulant: ‘Too rash!’
1897. ‘O. Rhoscomyl,’ White Rose Arno, xxviii. 298. He tore into the long reaches behind, panting and snapping curses.
c. Similarly with out.
1888. F. Hume, Mme. Midas, I. ii. Slivers was just going to snap out a refusal.
1902. R. Bagot, Donna Diana, viii. 99. She snapped it out, however—the plain, vulgar word porco.
3. † a. Thieves’ cant. To go shares with a thief or sharper. Cf. SNAP sb. 2. Obs.
1609. Field, Woman’s a Weathercock, IV. ii. Thou snapp’st besides with cheats and cutpurses.
1611. [see SNAP sb. 12 a].
b. To snatch, to make a quick or eager catch, at a thing. Also fig.
1673. Dryden, Marr. à la Mode, I. i. A man in these hard times snaps at them as he does at broad gold.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 313. Such … are apt to snap at any thing to please themselves.
1741. trans. D’Argens’ Chinese Lett., vi. 34. They delay to take a Revenge,… and when they find an Opportunity, they snap at it greedily.
1778. Mme. D’Arblay, Diary, 3 Aug. Any bookseller will snap at what you write.
1827. Scott, Jrnl., 10 July. His resignation was eagerly snapped at.
1898. Pr. Ranjitsinhji, With Stoddart’s Team, x. (ed. 3), 198. Storer in his eagerness snapped at the ball which otherwise would have landed safely into short slip’s hands.
c. To snap short, to fail to get or obtain.
1677. W. Hughes, Man of Sin, II. v. 95. Lay-men may not tast the Cup at all.… Their Clergy … will not snap short as the Laity must.
1732–8. Swift, Polite Conv., 109. Snap short makes you look so lean, Miss.
† d. Sc. To attempt to do something. Obs.
1766. A. Nichol, Poems, 19. If some auld swinger snap to speak Of pink-ey’d queans, he gives a squeek.
† 4. a. To strike or stab at one. Obs.–1
1626. B. Jonson, Staple of N., II. Interm. (1905), 54. I’ld not giue a rush for a Vice, that has not a wooden dagger to snap at euery body he meetes.
† b. To pounce upon a person or thing. rare.
1648. Hexham, II. Een Snap-haen, a Robber that Snaps upon one in the high way.
1679. T. Puller, Moder. Ch. Eng. (1843), 41. Those who love not to be contained in any good bounds when they read the Bible, choose to do it out of all canonical order, or generally snap upon the chapters fortuitously.
II. 5. trans. To catch, capture, or seize quickly, suddenly or by surprise.
Common in the 17th c.; now chiefly dial., or spec. in Cricket.
1568. T. Howell, Arb. Amitie (1879), 86. And shall I thus an wofull wretch, be snapt in sugred snare?
1582. Stanyhurst, Æneis, II. (Arb.), 46. My coosen was snapt by wycked Vlisses.
1625. Fletcher & Shirley, Night-Walker, II. The chest is of some weight, and we may make Such noise ith carriage we may be snap’d.
c. 1645. Tullie, Siege of Carlisle (1840), 6. They … failed in snapping Col. Graye’s small regement of horse at Stanwick.
1699. Bentley, Phal., 103. The Doctor finds Stesichorus in danger of being snapt in his intended Journey.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, x. (1840), 182. We should snap her in the morning.
1798. O’Keeffe, Wild Oats, V. i. I wish we could snap any straggler to bring before her.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., xxxvi. She is not quite goose enough to fall in love with the fox who has snapped her.
1855. Browning, Fra Lippo, 76. As I was stealing back again … You snap me of the sudden.
1898. Pr. Ranjitsinhji, With Stoddart’s Team, x. (ed. 3), 195. Iredale also secured an ‘egg,’ Storer snapping him at the wicket.
transf. and fig. 1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Prendre au pied levé, to snappe one in wordes, to take him at aduantage.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, II. 104. Alexander was snapt in the flower of his age and glory.
1706. Hearne, Collect. (O.H.S.), I. 303. A Daughter who by chance snap’d a Gentleman Commoner … of a considerable Estate.
1859. Watson’s Bards Borders, 73. If disease them didna snap, He wad ha’e plenty tatties.
b. To snatch for one’s own use; to take to oneself with a quick movement; to steal or purloin in this manner. Also with away.
1624. Wotton, in Reliq. (1651), 88. There was near Bayon, an Herd of Goats…, upon which sight the said Sir R. Greham tells the Marquess, he would snap one of the Kids.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., III. 24. Did I not see you, Rascal,… When you lay snug to snap young Damon’s Goat?
c. 1756. in W. Wing, Ann. Steeple Aston, 48. A simple hare, had he but snapt, Or partridge in the wood.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xx. See that he snap them [gold buttons] not away.
1858. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., II. xiv. (1872), I. 129. Neighbouring potentates … snapped away some convenient bit of territory.
1899. S. MacManus, In Chim. Corners, 133. Doesn’t one of the king’s men snap the shoe off his foot.
c. To catch or seize with a quick bite or snap. Also in fig. context.
1687. Miége, Dict., II. s.v., An unlucky dog snapt my leg.
a. 1716. South, Serm. (1717), IV. 162. He who has escaped in many Battles,… by playing too often at the Mouth of Death, has been snapped by it at last.
1760. Jortin, Erasmus, II. 153. The Ægyptian dogs, when they drink at the Nile, are said to run all the while, for fear of being snapped by the Crocodiles.
1824. Mactaggart, Gallovid. Encycl., 499. Now a trap did snap him:… A rafter down did fa’, which catch’d a leg.
1863. Cowden Clarke, Shaks. Char., vi. 161. They think it a mere flouting at the gifts of Providence if they do not snap the bait like gudgeons.
d. To secure, obtain, take up, quickly or readily.
More frequently with up: see 6 c.
1798. O’Keeffe, Wild Oats, II. iii. Oh, here he is! Trap. Snap him at any terms.
1905. Westm. Gaz., 15 Feb., 9/1. Recent issues have been readily snapped.
e. To secure the passing or giving of (decisions, legislation, etc.) without allowing due time for consideration or discussion.
1883. Gibson, Sp. in Parlt., 14 Aug. To snap legislation … which they were not gravely asked to pass at the time when it could have been carefully considered.
1885. Law Rep. 29 Chanc. Div. 453. He was defeated by the Defendant going to another Court and managing to snap a judgment first.
1901. Scotsman, 11 March, 9/4. They were strong enough … to prevent hasty decisions being snapped behind the backs of the people.
6. With up: a. = senses 5, 5 b, and 5 c.
1550. Coverdale, Spir. Perle, x. 84. Whan we liue in ydlenes, in al lust and pleasure, the deuyl snappeth vs vp.
1601. J. Wheeler, Treat Comm., 59. The single Merchant … is many times snapped vp and made a praye to Dunkerkers, and other Sea-rouers.
1692. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 427. A yatch … is missing, and ’tis feared is snapt up by some French privateer.
1732. Tricks of Town, 9. The Dog is instantly snapp’d up, and convey’d away under an old louzy Great-Coat, or a greasy Ridinghood, to some filthy Cellar or Garret.
1823. Scott, Quentin D., vii. Tristan but pretends to mistake, that he may snap up the kindly Scots that come over to see their kinsfolks.
1865. Ruskin, Sesame, i. § 33. We snap up anything in the way of a scientific bone that has meat on it.
1884. Spectator, 4 Oct., 1287/2. Merchant-steamers … would be snapped up by the fast cruisers of the enemy.
fig. 1809. Malkin, Gil Blas, IX. vi. (Rtldg.), 320. Then … I snapped up the words out of his mouth. To be sure, my tongue did run at a fine rate against him.
b. To secure (a girl) in marriage.
1842. Barham, Ingol. Leg., Ser. II. Merch. V. (1905), 245. Portia … Is not to be snapp’d up like little potatoes.
1865. Trollope, Belton Est., x. 116. The conquest of Clara would not be too facile. She was a woman of value, not to be snapped up easily.
1888. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, II. xix. 300. All the girls about here are getting snapped up quick.
c. = sense 5 d.
1873. [F. C. Burnand], in Punch, 20 Sept., 118/1. When you see one [a horse] at that price don’t wait to write, but snap him up—buy him for me.
1887. Jessopp, Arcady, vii. 196. Every little outlying farm was snapped up and bought by country gentlemen.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 403. They [cattle] were snapped up at eight-pounds-ten a head.
d. To eat up quickly or hastily.
1808–. in dial. glossaries (Sc., Lanc., Wilts., Somerset, etc.).
7. With off: a. To bite off (a limb, etc.) sharply and quickly. Also transf., to drink off quickly.
c. 1590. Greene, Fr. Bacon, iii. 34. We will to the tavern and snap off a pint of wine or two.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, V. i. 116. Wee had likt to haue had our two noses snapt off with two old men without teeth.
1700. S. L., trans. Fryke’s Voy. E. Ind., 16. The Carpenter … had his Arm and Shoulder snap’d off.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1776), VI. 241. The shark darted upon him … and snapped off his leg.
b. To snap one’s nose, or head, off, to speak or reply to (a person) in a curt, sharp, ungracious or angry manner.
1709. [see NOSE sb. 9 c].
1742. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), II. 166. Old G. snapped my nose off for saying I had sent for him.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., xxvii. Do you ever snap people’s noses off, or tell them you think them very foolish.
1886. F. Robinson, Courting May Smith, I. xiv. If I had not been quite sure he would have snapped my head off.
8. To catch or take (one) up with an abrupt or sharp remark. Also with short.
1647. Hexham, I. Snapped him up,… berispte hem.
1649. Nicholas Papers (Camden), 156. The King grew very chollerick and angry and did snap him up very short.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., II. 185. William Earl of Exeter … snapped him up for a begging Scholar.
1797. Mrs. Radcliffe, Italian, III. i. 37. You always snap me up so short at the beginning. Ibid., ii. 53. I don’t much like to be snapped up so!
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xliv. ‘Susan Nipper,’ snapping her up particularly short, ‘a month’s warning from this hour.’
1883. J. Payn, Thicker than Water, xx. If I am snapped up in this manner, and not permitted to go on,… argument is impossible.
b. To interrupt or snub, to cut short, in an abrupt or peevish manner. Also with off.
1687. Miége, s.v., To snap one, or to speak roughly to him.
1722. De Foe, Col. Jack, li. (1840), 30. He snapped me short, Why, says he, how shall I get them to him?
1796. Mrs. M. Robinson, Angelina, III. 172. To be sure your ladyship did snap and snub her confoundedly.
1837. Hood, United Family, i. One liking this, one hating that, Each snapping each, like dog and cat.
1899. W. Raymond, No Soul above Money, II. i. Never waiting to snap a body off short who had any little favour to ask.
9. a. To bring down by a quick shot.
1828. Col. Hawker, Diary (1893), I. 342. The only plan was … to snap down the birds as they rose.
b. To take (an instantaneous photograph); to snap-shot.
1890. A. Black, in St. Nicholas, Oct., 1034/1. A hand camera, with which he followed the babies about, ‘snapping’ them in their best positions.
1892. Pall Mall Gaz., 20 April, 6/1. He asked by what law he was forbidden the privilege of ‘snapping’ photographs from the pier.
c. intr. To take instantaneous photographs.
1891. Anthony’s Photogr. Bulletin, IV. 202. Perhaps the circus has been in town, and you’ve snapped on the elephants. Ibid. Why, you were snapping away for dear life.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 2 Jan., 7/3. The photographers … were busily at work snapping at everything and anything.
III. 10. trans. a. To close (the jaws, mouth, etc.) suddenly or with a snap.
1573. Twyne, Æneid., XI. Nn ij b. He [a dog] snoppes his iawes, and is deceaued [h]is bit by half an inche.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. viii. 104. Tom, whose great heavy mouth had stood ajar during this communication, now suddenly snapped it together.
1904. Field, 6 Feb., 208/1. He snapped his beak with a noise like pistol shots.
b. To wink or blink (the eyes) quickly or angrily (cf. 14).
1847. Halliw. s.v., To snap the eye, i. e. to wink.
1907. W. W. Jacobs, Short Cruises, 205. Mr. Wragg, snapping his eyes nervously, threatened in vain.
11. To pull the trigger of or fire (a pistol); to strike (a flint, etc.).
1673. Justiciary Proc. (S.H.S.), 131. [They] saw the gun presented and snapped.
1719. De Foe, Crusoe, I. (Globe), 307. I, snapping an uncharg’d Pistol.
1743. Bulkeley & Cummins, Voy. S. Seas, 83. The Lieutenant, bringing a Pair of Pistols to the Carpenter,… did not imagine they were loaded, snapping the first it miss’d Fire.
1847. Infantry Man. (1854), 42. He … will be taught to snap caps.
1857. J. G. Holland, Bay Path, xxvi. 334. I … drew the old charge, and snapped it two or three times, to let the children see the fire roll.
b. Const. at a person or thing.
1798. Ld. Auckland, Corr. (1862), III. 418. He snapped a pocket-pistol at him, which missed him.
1825. Hone, Every-day Bk., I. 1288. He had the imprudence to snap an unloaded pistol at him.
1852. Thackeray, Esmond, I. v. The officer, drawing a pistol, snapped it at his lordship.
c. To fire off (questions).
1874. R. Tyrwhitt, Our Sketching Club, 39. They are apt to flash or snap questions and answers at each other as in a French novel.
12. To cause (something) to make or give out a sharp sound of the nature of a click or crack; to close or fasten, to open or shut, etc., with this sound; to crack (a whip); to jerk out with a snap.
1714. Mrs. Manley, Adv. Rivella, 82. The Man … got up nimbly into his Coach-box, snapt his Whip.
1747. Richardson, Clarissa, xxxi. (1749), I. 198. Many a fan have I caused to be snapped at a sister beauty.
1781. Cowper, Table-T., 477. Tyranny … Slips the slave’s collar on, and snaps the lock.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour (1893), 153. Snapping his toothpick against the frame of his chair.
1889. Brit. Jrnl. Photogr., XXXVI. 605/2. How can any one snap his shutter at the right moment unless he is carefully watching the object.
1893. Kipling, Many Invent., 196. Gisborne snapped out the empty shells [from his rifle].
absol. 1880. ‘Mark Twain,’ Tramp Abroad, xxiv. 234. She got to snapping the lid of her smelling bottle,—it made a loud sharp sound, but in her trouble she snapped and snapped away.
b. To cause (the fingers) to make a sharp noise by striking against the ball of the thumb, esp. as a sign of delight or contempt. Also fig.
[1671. Skinner, Etymol. Ling. Angl., X xx j b. To snap with ones fingers,… digitis concrepare, vel crepitare.
1721. in Bailey.]
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, I. xvii. He then snapped his fingers,… and took two or three turns about the room in an extacy.
1821. Joanna Baillie, Metr. Leg., Columbus, xlviii. 20. The … Indian … foots the ground like vaunting child, Snapping his thumbs with anticks wild.
1839. T. Mitchell, Frogs of Aristoph., 66, note. At its conclusion he snaps his fingers in sovereign contempt.
1886. Jerome, Idle Th., 36. It is not until you have snapped your fingers in Fortune’s face … that she begins to smile upon you.
c. To snap one’s fingers at, to treat with indifference or contempt; to disregard or ignore.
1806. Scott, 11 Feb., in Lockhart. I hope I shall be very soon able to … snap my fingers at the bar and all its works.
1861. Hughes, Tom Brown at Oxf., xli. You’ll … be able to snap your fingers at them all.
1886. Stevenson, Kidnapped, xxiii. The men of his country … would have snapped their fingers at the Court of Session.
d. absol. To strike at with a snapping sound.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. iv. 47–8. He set her on his broad shoulder, and began capering and dancing with her, while Mas’r George snapped at her with his pocket-handkerchief.
13. intr. Of things: To make or emit a sharp cracking sound or report; to crack, crackle.
1673. Justiciary Proc. (S.H.S.), 131. He heard not the gun snapp.
1727. Boyer, Dict. Royal, II. To snap, (or to give a snap), éclater, faire du bruit.
1768. J. Byron, Narr. Patagonia (ed. 2), 74. Cedar … makes a brisk fire, but is … subject to snap and fly.
1789. Coleridge, The Nose, iv. Hear ye my entrails how they snap?
1855. Browning, Old Pictures in Florence, i. No flash snapped, no dumb thunder rolled.
1884. E. P. Roe, Nat. Ser. Story, ii. My caps only snapped.
b. To move or slide into place, to close or shut, to fit home, with a snap.
1793. Smeaton, Edystone L., § 241. I … gave it a violent pull, upon which it snapped into its place.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2229/2. Snap-lock.… A lock with a spring latch which snaps shut.
1891. Kipling, Light that Failed (1900), 217. The studio door snapped behind her.
1892. Greener, Breech-Loader, 63. They are liable to miss fire if the lever does not snap ‘home.’
14. a. Of the eyelids or eyes: To open and close quickly in an angry manner.
1870. E. E. Hale, Ten Times One, ii. 34 (Cent. Dict.). How Caroline’s eyes snapped and flashed fire!
1899. B. Capes, Lady of Darkness, ii. 13. Ned, peering forth, saw his Madonna jerk erect, her eyelids snapping.
b. Of jaws, etc.: To close with a snap.
1899. F. V. Kirby, Sport E. C. Africa, iv. 51. The great jaws snapped like the teeth of so many wolf-traps.
IV. 15. intr. To break suddenly and (usually) with a sharp noise or report; to give way or part suddenly owing to strain or tension.
Du. snappen and Fris. snappe have also this sense.
1602. Marston, Ant. & Mel., I. Wks. 1856, I. 14. What a slender waste he hath! Heele snap in two at every little straine.
a. 1631. Donne, Poems, The Storm (1633), 58. Our tacklings Snapping, like too-high-stretched treble strings.
1799. J. Robertson, Agric. Perth, 236. Scotch oak … is found to snap over when used as ribs to a ship.
1819. Miss Mitford, in L’Estrange, Life (1870), II. iii. 76. Four or five glasses snapped, one after another.
1850. Scoresby, Cheever’s Whaleman’s Adv., xiv. (1858), 198. Another line was taken on board, which immediately snapped.
1897. W. H. Thornton, Reminisc. West-Co. Clergyman, vi. 181. Even strong harness snaps when subjected to a sudden jerk.
b. fig. or in fig. context.
1822. Shelley, Triumph Life, 158. The fiery band which held Their natures, snaps.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. III. i. When the so-called Bonds of Society snap asunder.
1876. Miss Yonge, Womankind, xviii. 137. When your power of arresting mischief snaps.
1896. A. E. Housman, Shropshire Lad, ix. Sharp the link of life will snap.
c. To be broken off with a snap.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 497. Such a violent spasm of the jaw that a piece of one of the incisor teeth snapped off.
1842. S. Lover, Handy Andy, xlvii. The butt-ends of the muskets snapped off like tobacco pipes.
1892. Stevenson, Across Plains, ii. 87. Without a nod of warning, the huge pine-tree snaps off short.
16. trans. To break (something) suddenly and cleanly; to break in two; to cause (a rope, etc.) to part or give way.
1679. Trial Lord Cornwallis, 12. My Lord … holding the white Staff … in both hands…, snapt it in two.
1680. Morden, Geog. Rect. (1685), 52. There is the Herb Ossifraga … which snaps the bones of Cattel that tread upon it.
1725. Pope, Odyss., X. 668. Full endlong from the roof the sleeper fell, And snapped the spinal joint and waked in hell.
1768–74. Tucker, Lt. Nat. (1834), II. 638. They found no difficulty in snapping short the single sticks.
1825. J. Nicholson, Operat. Mechanic, 33. The shock proceeding from inertia snaps the teeth of the wheels.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, II. II. iv. The shock Of cataract seas that snap The three decker’s oaken spine.
1871. Macduff, Mem. Patmos, xxv. 347. Its moorings are snapped as tow.
slang. 1785. Grose, Dict. Vulgar T., To snap the glaze, to break shop windows, or shew glasses.
b. fig. or in fig. context.
1771. Franklin, Autobiog., Wks. 1840, I. 71. At length a trifle snapped our connexion.
1798. Coleridge, Anc. Mar., VI. x. And now this spell was snapt.
1819. Shelley, Cenci, V. i. 82. There arose a Power Which grasped and snapped the threads of my device.
1863. Geo. Eliot, Romola, II. v. She had been strong enough to snap asunder the bonds she had accepted in blind faith.
c. To break off with a snap.
1808. [see snapwood s.v. SNAP-].
1820. Shelley, Sensit. Pl., III. 109. A northern whirlwind … Shook the boughs … And snapped them off.
1833. T. Hook, Parson’s Dau., I. vii. A five pound fish … had snapped off the top-joint of his … rod.
1834. Good’s Study Med. (ed. 4), III. 101. If it be forcibly snapped off, it will shoot out the wider.
V. 17. a. Adverbially: With, or as with, a snap; quickly, smartly. Freq. in phr. to go snap.
1583. Stubbes, Anat. Abus., II. (1882), 50. Then snap go the fingers, ful brauely, god wot.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., IV. v. 3. What wouldst thou haue?… speake, breathe, discusse: breefe, short, quicke, snap.
c. 1746. J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial. (1775), 28. On coom snap, on axt meh whot he wantut?
1844. N. Paterson, Manse Garden, 64. Snap goes the branch, making a very unseemly fracture.
1890. L. C. D’Oyle, Notches, 175. Snap went the noose.
b. In phr. to cry snap.
In quot. 1782 in allusion to the crying of ‘Snap!’ in the game Snip-snap-snorum.
1694. Johnson, Notes Past. Lett., I. 13. This is an Argument which cries snap like a Mousetrap, but will catch nothing.
1782. Miss Burney, Cecilia, IX. iii. I suppose he’ll shilly-shally till somebody else will cry snap, and take her.
