[f. SNAPPISH a.] The fact or quality of being snappish; sharpness, curtness or peevishness of language or speech.

1

1598.  Florio, Proteruità, frowardnes,… skittishnes, snappishnes.

2

1727.  Bailey (vol. II.), Snappishness, Crossness, Peevishness, Crabbedness in Speech.

3

1757.  Rutty, Spiritual Diary (1776), 2nd month, no. 26. Cursed snappishness,… on a bodily indisposition.

4

a. 1801.  Wakefield, Mem. (1804), I. 25. He threatened with great snappishness to flog me.

5

1836.  T. Hook, G. Gurney, III. 174. The cause of my old lady’s snappishness to-night.

6

1876.  Miss Braddon, J. Haggard’s Dau., xi. A little extra snappishness on the part of Judith.

7