slang. [Of obscure origin.]
† 1. A fillip (on the nose). Obs.
1676. Coles, Snitch,… a fillip.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Snitch,… a Filip on the Nose.
2. The nose.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Snite his Snitch, Wipe his Nose, or give him a good Flap on the Face.
1895. Rye, E. Angl. Gloss., 204. Pull her snitch for her.
1903. Westm. Gaz., 3 July, 2/1. As the … egg … broke on the ‘snitch’ of the Socialist candidate.
3. An informer; one who turns King’s evidence. In the phr. to turn snitch.
1785. in Grose, Dict. Vulgar T.
c. 1800. in Byron, Juan, XI. xix. Note 14, She’ll surely turn snitch for the forty—That her Jack may be regular weight.
