Also 2 snyflung, 5 -ynge; 5 sneuelyng, 6 -ing, etc. [See SNIVEL v.] The action of the vb. in various senses.
a. 1100. in Napier, Contrib. O. E. Lexicog., 58. ʓif heora æneʓum for unhæle hraca of breoste oððe snyflung of nosa deriʓe.
c. 1430. Freemasonry (Halliw. 1840), 711. From spyttynge and snyflynge kepe the also.
1587. Mascall, Govt. Cattle, Sheepe (1627), 220. Sheep oftentimes wil haue the glaunders, and a sneuelling at their noses.
1655. Moufet & Bennet, Health’s Improv. (1746), 380. Spitting, Sniveling and Yawning, are only the Fruits of Fulness or Idleness.
1693. Apol. Clergy Scot., 15. They never thought Sniveling necessary to make a great Saint.
1748. Smollett, Rod. Rand., lxi. (1804), 436. After a good deal of snivelling and sobbing.
1782. Cowper, To the Rev. Mr. Newton, 11. There is nothing but sniv’ling and blowing of noses.
1815. Hist. J. Decastro, I. 44. Come, John,… let us have no more sniv’ling.
1875. Emerson, Lett. & Social Aims, x. 256. Meantime we hate snivelling.
attrib. 1782. Eliz. Blower, G. Bateman, II. 115. I war’nt there was fine sniveling work when ye parted.
1816. J. Gilchrist, Philos. Etym., 52. They only require a gentle grunt through the snivelling organs, to soothe dainty ears with much sweet melody.
