Now dial. Also 7, 9 snast, 9 snaast, snaist, sneest(e; 6 snase, 9 snace, snaice, sneeze. [Of obscure origin: cf. GNAST.] A candle-wick: freq. the burning or burnt part of a wick, a snuff.
1592. Greene, Upst. Courtier, G iv b. After your weeke or snast [pr. snaft] is stiffened, you dip it in filthy drosse.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, Wks. (Grosart), III. 203. His stinking breath, (which smells like the greasie snase of a candle).
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 369. Till some part of the Candle was consumed, and the Dust gathered about the Snaste; But then it made the Snaste big, and long, and to burn duskishly.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xiv. 140. In our daies do men practise to make long lasting Snasts … for lampes.
1691. Ray, N. C. Words, The Snaste; the burnt Week or Snuffe of a Candle.
a. 1825–. in dial. glossaries, etc. (Northampt., E. Anglia, Essex).
