subs. (colloquial).—1. A share; a portion: TO GO SNACKS (or TO SNACK) = to share; to divide (B. E., GROSE and BEE).
1675. WYCHERLEY, The Country Wife, iii. 2. Spark. Who is that that is to be bubbled? Faith, let me SNACK; I han’t met with a bubble since Christmas.
1694. SIR R. L’ESTRANGE, Fables, 381. If the Master gets the Better on’t, they come in for their SNACK.
1701. FARQUHAR, Sir Harry Wildair, iv. 2. Well, Monsieur! ’tis about a thousand pounds; we GO SNACKS.
d. 1704. T. BROWN, Works, ii. 108. The Cardinal de Estree, being passionately in Love with the Marchioness d’Cœuvres, who was supposed to have granted the Duke de Sceaux, the liberty of rifling her Placket, was resolv’d to put in for his SNACK.
1714. A. SMITH, An History of the Lives of Highway-Men, etc., i. 85. He and his Comrades coming to an Inn to SNACK their Booty.
1734. POPE, Satires, Prologue, 65.
| All my demurs but double his attacks; | |
| At last he whispers, ‘Do, and we GO SNACKS.’ |
1789. G. PARKER, Life’s Painter, 149. SNACK the bit.
c. 1790. Kilmainham Minit [Ireland Sixty Years Ago], 87.
| He merrily melted de winners, | |
| To SNACK wid de boys of de pad. |
1809. MALKIN, Gil Blas [ROUTLEDGE], 378. You shall GO SNACKS in all that we can squeeze out of the old fellow.
2. (colloquial).—A hasty meal; a BITE (q.v.).—BEE.
1763. FOOTE, The Mayor of Garratt, i. Sir Jac. Come, son Bruin, we are all seated at table, man; we have but just time for a SNACK.
1818. SCOTT, The Heart of Mid-lothian, xxxviii. The cloth is laid … it is past three o’clock … I have been waiting this hour for you, and I have had a SNACK myself.
3. (common).—An innuendo; a jibe: e.g., ‘That’s a NASTY SNACK for you.’ As verb. = to QUIZ; TO ROAST (q.v.). Cf. SNAG.
1897. MARSHALL, Pomes, 112. It gives no ground for spiteful SNACKS.
4. (Winchester College).—A racket ball.
