Also 5–6 snoffer. [f. SNUFF v.1]
1. An instrument used for snuffing, or snuffing out, candles, etc. In later use only in plur. form (also a pair of snuffers).
α. 1465. Mann. & Househ. Exp. (Roxb.), 492. Item, the same day my master bowt a snoffer to snoffe wyth candeles.
1517–8. Rec. St. Mary at Hill (1905), 296. Paid … for Snoffers of plate for to put owte the tapurs.
1535. Coverdale, Exod. xxv. 38. Snoffers and out quenchers of pure golde.
1574. Churchw. Acc. St. Edmund’s, Sarum (Wilts. Rec. Soc.), 82. The makynge of the Snoffer to serve candelles in the churche.
β. 1538. Elyot, Emunctorium, an instrumente [etc.]…, a snuffer.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 106. Like to the snuffers or extinguishers wherewith we put out a candle.
1656. W. Du Gard, trans. Comenius’ Gate Lat. Unl., 225. The snuffers ready at hand, to snuff the wick ever and anon.
1687. Chernock, in Magd. Coll. (O.H.S.), 232. Why did you tear the Buttery book with the snuffers?
1747. Franklin, Lett., Wks. 1887, II. 72. We light candles, just blown out, by drawing a spark among the smoke between the wire and snuffers.
1764. J. Ferguson, Lect., iii. 33. To this kind of lever may be reduced several sorts of instruments, such as scissars, pinchers, snuffers.
1860. Mayhew, Upper Rhine, Introd. 3. Here it is that our eyes are still cheered with the sight of a pair of snuffers.
1885. Athenæum, 7 Feb., 189. In [Hogarth’s] ‘Night’ the small man … is known by the snuffers hanging at his girdle to be a drawer at a tavern.
fig. 1630. Lennard, trans. Charron’s Wisd., I. Pref. 6. Sounding him to the quick, entring into him with a candle and a snuffer.
1642. Howell, For. Trav. (Arb.), 77. If these Lights grow dim, there is a Trienniall Snuffer for them.
1827. Hare, Guesses, Ser. I. (1873), 10. A critic should be a pair of snuffers. He is oftener an extinguisher.
b. transf. The finger and thumb as used for clearing or wiping the nose.
1843. Marryat, M. Violet, xxvii. Employing … the pair of snuffers which natural instinct has supplied him with.
2. One who snuffs candles. (Cf. CANDLE-SNUFFER 2.)
1611. Cotgr., Moucheur, a snyter, wiper, snuffer.
1722–7. Boyer, Dict. Royal, I. s.v. Moucheur, The Snuffer, He that snuffs the Candles at the Play-house.
1761. Churchill, Rosciad, Poems 1769, I. 14. Then came … snuffer, sweeper, shifter, soldier, mute.
1762. Foote, Orator, I. Wks. 1799, I. 191. What is all this business about here? Snuffer. Can’t say, Sir.
1814. W. Wilson, Hist. Dissent. Churches, iv. 78. Betty Gray had been a snuffer of candles at the playhouse.
3. attrib. and Comb. (in sense 1), as snuffer(s)-disk, -pan, -tray; snuffers-maker.
1677. Lond. Gaz., No. 1260/4. Two large silver Candlesticks, and Snuffer Pan. Ibid. (1686), No. 2203/4. A Silver Snuffer-dish and Snuffers chain’d.
1773. Lond. Chron., 7 Sept., 248/3. The following articles were assayed and marked;… bottle stands, snuffer pans [etc.].
1830. Galt, Lawrie T., II. i. (1849), 42. He took his cigar out of his mouth,… trimming it on the edge of the snuffer-tray.
1844. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., VII. 130. Moulded per gross, like … snuffer-dishes, inkstands, metal buttons, and brads!
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Snuffers’-maker, a manufacturer of metal snuffers.
