v. Chiefly north. and Sc. Forms: α. 4–5, 9 snoke (5 snokyn), 6 Sc. snokk-, 9 snoak. β. 6 snooke, 7– snook (8 dial. snooac). γ. 7– snouk, 8– snowk. [prob. of Scand. origin: cf. Norw. dial. snōka to snuff, smell.] intr. and trans. To snuff or smell; to go snuffing or smelling (at); to poke about with the nose. Also fig., to sneak about, to keep watch over, etc.

1

  α.  c. 1380.  Wyclif, Sel. Wks., II. 83. Disciplis of Crist wenten into þe citee to bie hem mete; for þei snokiden not fro hous to hous and beggiden mete, as freris doon.

2

c. 1475.  Promp. Parv., 462/1 (MS. K.). Snokyn, or smellyn, nicto.

3

1500.  Ortus Vocab., BB vij. Nicto,… to snoke as a honde dos.

4

1513.  Douglas, Æneid, V. ii. 99. The drink, and eik the offerandis gret and small, [the snake] Snokkis [v.r. snokis] and likkit.

5

1831.  J. Wilson, Noct. Ambr., Wks. 1855, III. 98. After smellin an’ snokin an’ snortin at it for a while.

6

1834.  M. Scott, Cruise Midge, xxi. He lay still, with the beast … poking down its head, and snorting and snoking at him.

7

  β.  1570.  Levins, Manip., 159/35. To Snooke, olfacere.

8

1608.  Hieron, Defence, II. 8. Whether he snooketh not as right into Rheames and Rome as maie be [etc.].

9

1641.  Best, Farm. Bks. (Surtees), 74. The hogges went snuffinge and snookinge from heape to heape.

10

a. 1652.  Brome, New Acad., II. i. I must not lose my harmlesse recreations Abroad, to snook over my wife at home.

11

1687.  Miége, Gt. Fr. Dict., II. To Snook, or ly lurking for a thing.

12

1722.  Wodrow, Hist. Suff. Ch. Scot., III. viii. II. 449. The Dogs would snook and smell about the Stones under which they were hid, and yet they remained undiscovered.

13

1788.  W. H. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 354. To Snooac; to smell in a snuffing manner.

14

1834.  [Seba Smith], Lett. J. Downing (1835), 106. All we’ve got to do is to open that, and snook among old papers.

15

1891.  R. Ford, Thistledown, ix. 163. That we do not gang … snookin’ amang the snaw like mowdiewarts.

16

  γ.  1624.  Sanderson, Serm., I. 241. Like swine under the oaks, we grouze up the acorns, and snouk about for more.

17

1786.  Burns, Twa Dogs, 39. Wi’ social nose [the dogs] whyles snuff’d an’ snowket.

18

1861.  R. Quinn, Heather Lintie (1863), 76.

        But hunger’s made me sae auld farren
            I snouk aboot
For ’tatty peels and banes o’ herrin’,
            That fouk fling oot.

19

1894.  Crockett, Raiders, xlv. 331. Gin ony o’ Agnew’s men were gaun snowkin’ roond, it micht cause misunderstandings.

20

  Hence Snoking vbl. sb.

21

c. 1440.  Promp. Parv., 462/1. Snokynge, olfactus.

22