Also 5–6 snygge, 6, 8–9 snigg. [Of obscure origin.]

1

  1.  A young or small eel; a grig. In later use a distinct species of eel (see quots.).

2

1483.  Cath. Angl., 347/1. A Snygge, vbi a ele.

3

1570.  Levins, Manip., 118/44. A Snig, anguillæ genus.

4

1586–7.  Shuttleworths. Acc. (Chetham Soc.), 35. Syxtene snygges, ijs ijd.

5

1601.  Holland, Pliny, IX. li. Those scrapings (as it were) which are fretted from them [sc. eels], in time come to take life, and prove snigs.

6

1664.  H. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 32. Eels in Vinegar … appear like small Silver-Eells, or little Snigs.

7

1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, II. 325/1. An Eel, first a Fausen, then a Grigg, or Snigg, then a Scaffling, then a little Eel [etc.].

8

c. 1746.  J. Collier (Tim Bobbin), View Lanc. Dial. (1775), 43. I feel hoose os fat os o Snig.

9

1781–.  in dial. glossaries (N. Cy., Lanc., Chesh., Warw., Wilts., Hants., etc.).

10

1836.  Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, II. 302. The Hampshire Snig differs from our other Eels in its habit of roving and feeding during the day.

11

1863.  H. C. Pennell, Angler-Naturalist, 400. The Snig, or Medium-nosed Eel (Anguilla mediorostris).

12

1883.  G. C. Davies, Norfolk Broads, xxxi. (1884), 242. The grig or snig, a yellowish eel with a projecting under-lip.

13

  fig.  1581.  J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 384 b. This heroycall Gyant … despising and loathing these small snigges of Babish Haddon.

14

  2.  attrib. and Comb., as snig-eel, -pie, -pot, etc.

15

  Other examples are given in the Eng. Dial. Dict.

16

1836.  Yarrell, Brit. Fishes, II. 301. Anguilla mediorostris, Snig Eel.

17

1861.  Waugh, Rambles Lake Cy., 24. They’d etten so mich snig-pie … that [etc.].

18

1865.  G. F. Berkeley, Life & Recoll., II. 316. I was looking at some snig-pots … in my fishery.

19

1883.  Day, Fishes Gt. Brit., II. 242. Sharp-nosed-eel, Dublin-eel, Broad-nosed-eel, Snig-eel.

20