[See SNIGGLING vbl. sb.]
Fletcher’s Thierry & Theod. II. ii. ‘I haue snigled him’ is cited by Todd and later Dicts. as an early example of this verb; but the correct reading is doubtless ‘singled’ (cf. SINGLE v. 2 and 3).
1. a. intr. To fish for eels by the method known as sniggling.
1671. Skinner, Etymol. Ling. Angl., To Sniggle, vox Piscatoribus satis nota.
1775. Ash, Sniggle, to fish for eels by putting a bait to the holes in which they conceal themselves.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, II. 275. How to sniggle for Eels.
1833. Bowlker’s Art of Angling, 96. To sniggle for Eels procure a strong top rod, or a long hazel stick [etc.].
1867. Burnard, Happy Thoughts, iii. 17. I ask ‘Sniggle for chub?’ He … answers, ‘No, sniggle for eels.’
b. trans. To fish for, catch, pull out (an eel or eels) in this way.
1854. Badham, Prose Halieutics, 390.
| As wily anglers sniggling eels | |
| The approved device employ. |
1867. F. Francis, Angling, iii. (1880), 89. Sniggling an old eel out of his hole … is not altogether unamusing.
2. trans. To catch (fish) by means of striking a hook into them.
1834. Medwin, Angler in Wales, II. 197. Charters has since sniggled abundance of trout.
1894. Sat. Rev., 6 Jan., 15/1. These noble salmon, netted, speared, sniggled, very likely.
Hence Sniggled ppl. a.
1844. Tupper, Crock of Gold, xlvi. 294. When I caught that dridful little reptil by the arm, he wriggled like a sniggled eel.
