Now dial. and Sc. Forms: 4–5 snybbyn, snybbe(n, snyb (6 Sc.), snybe; 4, 6– snib (4, 6 Sc., snibe), 6 snibb, 6–7 snibbe. See also SNEB v. [Of Scand. origin: cf. older Da. snibbe, MSw. snybba, related to snubba SNUB v.1]
1. trans. To reprove, reprimand, rebuke, check sharply or severely: a. A person.
Common in literary use down to c. 1675.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 18228. Hell hint þan þat gerard grim And selcut snarpli snibbed him.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 525. Hym wolde he snybben sharply for the nonys.
c. 1412. Hoccleve, De Reg. Princ., 2825. But to þe pore, is denyed al grace; He snybbyd is.
c. 1450. Capgrave, Life St. Aug., 6. Desiryng of him þat he schuld snybbe þe maydenes þat þei schuld not be redy to telle swech tales.
1515. Douglas, Lett., Wks. 1874, I. p. xxxviii. He is … the instrument of mekyll harm, and I dreyd sall yit be of mayr and he be nocht snybbyt.
1577. Stanyhurst, Descr. Irel., i. in Holinshed. Here percase some snappish carper will … snuffingly snibbe me, for debacing the Irish language.
1607. Middleton, Five Gallants, II. iii. You have snibbed the poor fellow too much; he can scarce speak.
1655. Fuller, Ch. Hist., IX. 139. Hence it was that many Bishops … were checkt and snibt by this great favourite to their no small … discouragement.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. 169. Christian snibbeth his fellow for unadvised speaking.
1742. [see SNELL a. 3].
1839. Carleton, Fardorougha, vi. 132. If Honor comes to be snibbin’ an’ makin’ little o’ me afore them.
1851. W. Hay, in The Lintie o’ Moray, 64. No termagant tongue … Dares rattle around us, or scold us, or snib.
1854–. in dial. glossaries (Northampt., Leic., Rutland).
[1888. Doughty, Arabia Deserta, I. 240. In bitterness of a displeasure he will snib his disobedient son with vehement words.]
absol. c. 1440. Capgrave, Life St. Kath., III. 261 (MS. Rawl.). Therfor ȝour grace … I pray To punch & snybe, ȝourself as ȝe lest.
b. A thing, action, conduct, etc.
In later quots. passing into sense 2.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 26233. Spous-brecking, and als hordom,… þe biscop agh þaa for to snib.
1435. Misyn, Fire of Love, II. ix. 95. If any of slyke þingis ȝee ful seldum wald snyb, to scorne he is laghyd.
a. 1578. Lindesay (Pitscottie), Chron. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 133. [I] wald snibe the same [conduct] and schaw thame that law of god.
1596. Dalrymple, trans. Leslie’s Hist. Scot. (S.T.S.), II. 361. She snibbit the hauiest offences of al men in that cuntrie.
1631. J. Done, Polydoron, 3–4. Satyricall Poetry, like a payre of snuffers snibbing filth in others, but retayning it in it selfe.
1648. T. Hill, Dying Saints, Ep. Ded. B iij b. Far bee it from mee to snib the movings of God’s Spirit in the weakest and meanest of his Saints.
1720. Wodrow, Life R. Bruce (1843), 93. Mr. Bruce wrote … that he was ready to snib the sinister interpretations the people were running to.
2. To check by some repressive action.
c. 1500. Lancelot, 3387. As at the stok the bere Snybbith the hardy houndis that ar ken, So farith he.
1513. Douglas, Æneid, X. Prol. 15. Wyntyr to snyb the erth wyth frosty schouris.
a. 1607. Brightman, Bright. Rediv. (1647), iv. 117. Though it [hope] moderate the desire … yet it quenches not, nor snibs the earnestnesse thereof.
1663. R. Blair, Autobiog. (1848), iv. 63. All the corns were thrown down and fully dried, the growing thereon snibbed.
1674. Bp. Ward, Serm. 30 Jan., 13. The seeds of Piety … may be trampled on and kept under, crop’d and snib’d by the bestial part.
b. Sc. (See quot.)
1808. Jamieson, To Snib a candle, to snuff it.
