vbl. sb. [f. SNATCH v.]
1. The action of the verb.
1526. Skelton, Magnyf., 1143. Fan. Where the Deuyll gate he all these hurtes? Fol. By God, for snatchynge of puddynges and wortes.
1589. R. Harvey, Pl. Perc. (1590), A iij. Soft maisters, faire plaie and no snatching.
1641. J. Jackson, True Evang. T., I. 73. Our rapacity, by our snatching, and catching, at far more then is our own.
1846. Trench, Mirac., ix. (1862), 207. Snatchings on the part of the creature at honours which of right belonged only to the Creator.
1847. Bushnell, Chr. Nurture, II. iii. (1861), 282. The casual snatching and feeding at all hours.
2. Twitching.
1822–7. Good, Study Med. (1829), IV. 477. The limbs were in a state of constant snatching and trepidation.
3. The practice of catching fish by means of hooks which are pulled sharply through the water.
1878. Standard, 21 Oct., 5/1 (Davies). ‘Snatching’ is a form of illicit piscicapture for which it is impossible to entertain … sympathy.
1884. R. Jefferies, in Pall Mall Gaz., 6 Sept., 1/2. They [fish] are also protected by regulations…; snatching, for instance, is unlawful.
4. techn. (See quot.)
1887. Archit. Soc. Dict., Snatching. The term for making laths break bond for plastering.
