snark

[ snahrk ]

/ snɑrk /

noun

a mysterious, imaginary animal.

Nearby words

snapshot, snaptin, snare, snare drum, snarf, snark, snarky, snarl, snarl-up, snarler, snarly

Origin of snark

First recorded in 1876; coined by Lewis Carroll in his poem The Hunting of the Snark

Definition for snark (2 of 2)

snark

[ snahrk ]

/ snɑrk /

Slang.

verb (used without object)

to be critical in a rude or sarcastic way: to snark about the neighbors.

noun

rude or sarcastic criticism.

Origin of snark

1910–15; dial. snark ‘to nag, find fault with’; apparently identical with snark, snork ‘to snort, snore’, probably < Dutch, Low German snorken ‘to snore’

Examples from the Web for snark

But critiques and snark have no place, watching re-runs late at night.
Thank You for Being a Friend: Why TV Re-runs Never Grow Old|Tim Teeman|May 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jimmy Fallon's uncontainable glee is a welcome respite from late night's usual smarm and snark, but that's Fallon's thing.
Seth Meyers Gets Off to a Rocky Start on 'Late Night'|Kevin Fallon|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For such searing, challenging dreams, we have only snark or smarm.
How to Fight for Freedom in 2014|James Poulos|December 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST
That should knock the snark out of the precocious six-year old who wonders exactly how Santa knows all.
How Santa Hurts Christmas|Candida Moss|December 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Joseph's snark was not confined to his Obama administration colleagues.
Exclusive: White House Official Fired for Tweeting Under Fake Name|Josh Rogin|October 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Snark would not run the risk of publicly smirching himself—for who would believe his protestations of innocency?
Garrison's Finish|W. B. M. Ferguson
Of course, if the Snark were sailing due west at six knots per hour, for the intervening four hours her latitude would not change.
The Cruise of the Snark|Jack London
At every roll the Snark shook overboard a bunch or so of bananas and cocoanuts, or a basket of limes.
The Cruise of the Snark|Jack London
Now people are coming aboard to look at the Snark, and she will soon be sold.
Through the South Seas with Jack London|Martin Johnson
We were now to windward of the Snark, and the squall was howling.
The Cruise of the Snark|Jack London

Word Origin and History for snark

snark

imaginary animal, coined 1876 by Lewis Carroll in "The Hunting of the Snark." In 1950s, name of a type of U.S. cruise missile and in 1980s of a type of sailboat. Meaning "caustic, opinionated, critical rhetoric" is from c.2002 (see snarky) and not directly related, if at all.