[a. LG. snipp-snapp-snorum (also -snurr), = G. schnipp-schnapp-schnorum (or -schnurr), on which see the article in Grimm’s Dict.] A round game of cards, played (esp. by the young) in various ways, in which the players on turning up the requisite cards respectively call ‘snip,’ ‘snap’ and ‘snorum.’
In R. Hardie Hoyle made familiar (1830) 80 the game is called ‘Snip, Snap, Snore ’em,’ and in describing it the words snip, snap and snore are employed.
1755. Connoisseur, No. 52, ¶ 6. I saw these strange women place themselves at a huge round table … to play … at Pope Joan and Snip-snap-snorum!
1784. Laura & Augustus, I. 98. The … enlivening snip-snap snorum; which game they were then playing.
1820. Mrs. Trench, Rem., 439. His wife, his children, his garden,… fill up his day; as snip-snap-snorum does his evening.
1834. Southey, Doctor (1837), IV. 72. It had been found convenient to set down the children … to Pope Joan, or snip-snap-snorum, which was to them a more amusing because a noisier game.
1887. Besant, The World Went, xxiv. Bess … could play All-fours, Put, Snip-snap-snorum.
