v. U.S. [ad. Du. snoepen (LG. snôpen) in sense 1.]
1. intr. To appropriate and consume dainties in a clandestine manner.
1848. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., 318. A servant who goes slyly into a dairy-room and drinks milk from a pan, would be said to be snooping.
2. To go around in a sly or prying manner.
1864. R. B. Kimball, Was He Successful? 178. Don’t come snooping around to find out whether you sometimes go to the theatre.
1876. Besant & Rice, Gold. Butterfly, xx. I see the gells snoopin’ around with their eyes as soft as velvet.
1883. Century Mag., XXVI. Sept., 744/1. He had no right to come snoopin’ around where I was at work.
Hence Snooper, one who pries or peeps.
Snoop is also used as a sb. in the same sense.
1896. Westm. Gaz., 18 March, 3/1. Artists sketching whenever they can get a chance, and surrounded by ‘snoopers.’
