schnoz

[ shnoz ]

noun

, Slang.

1. a nose, especially one of unusually large size.

Word History and Origins

Origin of schnoz¹

1935–40, Americanism; probably expressive alteration of nose, nozzle; schn- by association with any of several semantically related Yiddish words, e.g. shnabl beak, shnoyts snout, shnuk beak, trunk; for suffix of schnozzola -ola

Example Sentences

The shape of the frog’s schnoz may hint at a life spent nosing through soft, wet soils.

From Popular-Science

Related Words

• beak
• snout

More About Schnoz

What does schnoz mean?

Schnoz is a slang term for a nose, especially a big one.

Schnoz is very informal and is usually used to be funny. Sometimes, it’s used to make fun of someone who has a big nose, which can be very rude and offensive, but some people also apply the term to their own nose.

It can also be used neutrally, simply as a silly way to refer to any nose, as in You’ve got a little something on your schnoz. This use of the word doesn’t necessarily imply that the nose is big.

Variants of the term include schnozz, schnozzle, and schnozzola.

Example: If my schnoz were any bigger, it would have its own area code!

Where does schnoz come from?

The first records of the word schnoz come from around 1930 from the U.S. Its origin was likely influenced by several different words, including nose and nozzle. The word schnozzle may come from an alteration of the Yiddish shnoitsl, a diminutive of shnoits, from the German Schnauze, meaning “snout.” Several other nose-related Yiddish words begin with schn or shn, including shnabl and shnuk, both meaning “beak,” and shnoyts, meaning “snout.”

The word snout itself is also related to the German Schnauze (which is the basis for the word schnauzer, a name of a breed of dog). Snout is most commonly used to refer to animal noses, but it can also be used as a slang term for a person’s nose. Schnoz is most commonly used to refer to people’s noses, but it can also be used to refer to an animal snout, as in Look at the schnoz on that anteater!

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to schnoz?

• schnozz (alternate spelling)

What are some synonyms for schnoz?

• schnozzola
• schnozzle
• honker
• sniffer
• snout
• nozzle
• beak

What are some words that often get used in discussing schnoz?

• nose
• big
• Yiddish

 

How is schnoz used in real life?

Schnoz is very informal. Calling someone’s nose a schnoz can be rude, but the term isn’t usually used to be insulting.

My shnoz is too big for my new face mask

— Pablo Harrynandez (@HarryBrianEllis) July 3, 2020

Spent dome time away from scallops today to help out @OCaretti with her #PhD research on #oyster reef #soundscapes. The fish on my schnoz is a skilletfish. They have a small sucker on their belly that makes them very sticky! #facesoffieldwork pic.twitter.com/fcTZ8dfJI8

— R. Patrick Lyon (@rpatlyon) August 18, 2018

Try using schnoz!

Which of the following words is a synonym of schnoz?

A. honker
B. snout
C. sniffer
D. all of the above