snuff1

[snuhf] /snʌf/
verb (used with object)
1.
to draw in through the nose by inhaling.
2.
to perceive by or as by smelling; sniff.
3.
to examine by smelling, as an animal does.
verb (used without object)
4.
to draw air into the nostrils by inhaling, as to smell something; snuffle:
After snuffing around, he found the gas leak.
5.
to draw powdered tobacco into the nostrils; take snuff.
6.
Obsolete. to express disdain, contempt, displeasure, etc., by sniffing (often followed by at).
noun
7.
an act of snuffing; an inhalation through the nose; a sniff.
8.
smell, scent, or odor.
9.
a preparation of tobacco, either powdered and taken into the nostrils by inhalation or ground and placed between the cheek and gum.
10.
a pinch of such tobacco.
Idioms
11.
up to snuff, Informal.
  1. British. not easily imposed upon; shrewd; sharp.
  2. up to a certain standard; satisfactory:
    His performance wasn't up to snuff.
Origin
1520-30; < Dutch snuffen
Related forms
snuffingly, adverb

snuff2

[snuhf] /snʌf/
noun
1.
the charred or partly consumed portion of a candlewick.
2.
a thing of little or no value, especially if left over.
verb (used with object)
3.
to cut off or remove the snuff of (candles, tapers, etc.).
Verb phrases
4.
snuff out,
  1. to extinguish:
    to snuff out a candle.
  2. to suppress; crush:
    to snuff out opposition.
  3. Informal. to kill or murder:
    Many lives were snuffed out during the epidemic.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English snoffe < ?
British Dictionary definitions for snuff

snuff1

/snʌf/
verb
1.
(transitive) to inhale through the nose
2.
when intr, often foll by at. (esp of an animal) to examine by sniffing
noun
3.
an act or the sound of snuffing
Derived Forms
snuffer, noun
Word Origin
C16: probably from Middle Dutch snuffen to snuffle, ultimately of imitative origin

snuff2

/snʌf/
noun
1.
finely powdered tobacco for sniffing up the nostrils or less commonly for chewing
2.
a small amount of this
3.
any powdered substance, esp one for sniffing up the nostrils
4.
(informal) up to snuff
  1. in good health or in good condition
  2. (mainly Brit) not easily deceived
verb
5.
(intransitive) to use or inhale snuff
Word Origin
C17: from Dutch snuf, shortened from snuftabale, literally: tobacco for snuffing; see snuff1

snuff3

/snʌf/
verb (transitive)
1.
(often foll by out) to extinguish (a light from a naked flame, esp a candle)
2.
to cut off the charred part of (the wick of a candle, etc)
3.
(usually foll by out) (informal) to suppress; put an end to
4.
(Brit, informal) snuff it, to die
noun
5.
the burned portion of the wick of a candle
Word Origin
C14 snoffe, of obscure origin
Word Origin and History for snuff
v.

"to cut or pinch off the burned part of a candle wick," mid-15c., from noun snoffe "burned part of a candle wick" (late 14c.), of unknown origin, perhaps related to snuff (v.2). The meaning "to die" is from 1865; that of "to kill" is from 1932; snuff-film, originally an urban legend, is from 1975.

"draw in through the nose," 1520s, from Dutch or Flemish snuffen "to sniff, snuff," related to Dutch snuiven "to sniff," from Proto-Germanic *snuf- (cf. Middle High German snupfe, German Schnupfen "head-cold"), imitative of the sound of drawing air through the nose (see snout). Related: Snuffed; snuffing.

n.

"powdered tobacco to be inhaled," 1680s, from Dutch or Flemish snuf, shortened form of snuftabak "snuff tobacco," from snuffen "to sniff, snuff" (see snuff (v.2)). The practice became fashionable in England c.1680. Slang phrase up to snuff "knowing, sharp, wide-awake, not likely to be deceived" is from 1811; the exact sense is obscure unless it refers to the "elevating" properties of snuff.

snuff in Medicine

snuff (snŭf)
v. snuffed, snuff·ing, snuffs
To inhale something audibly through the nose; sniff. n.

  1. A preparation of finely pulverized tobacco that can be drawn up into the nostrils by inhaling.

  2. A medicated powder inhaled through or blown into the nose.

Slang definitions & phrases for snuff

snuff

modifier

Showing or doing murder, esp the killing of women in sadistic shows or orgies: the snuff murder of an abused and homeless teenaged girl/ the vogue of the snuff film (1975+)

verb

To kill: more chillingly, STRESS snuffed at least 20 civilians/ Garlic never snuffed me (1973+)

Related Terms

up to snuff

[fr the idea of snuffing out a flame; found by 1884 in the form snuff out]


Idioms and Phrases with snuff

snuff

In addition to the idiom beginning with snuff also see: up to par (snuff)
Encyclopedia Article for snuff

powdered preparation of tobacco used by inhalation or by dipping-that is, rubbing on the teeth and gums. Manufacture involves grinding the tobacco and subjecting it to repeated fermentations. Snuffs may be scented with attar of roses, lavender, cloves, jasmine, etc.

Learn more about snuff with a free trial on Britannica.com