snatch
- to make a sudden effort to seize something, as with the hand; grab (usually followed by at).
- to seize by a sudden or hasty grasp: He snatched the old lady's purse and ran.
- to take, get, secure, etc., suddenly or hastily.
- to rescue or save by prompt action: He snatched the baby from the fire.
- Slang. to kidnap.
- the act or an instance of snatching.
- a sudden motion to seize something; grab: He made a snatch as if to stop her.
- a bit, scrap, or fragment of something: snatches of conversation.
- a brief spell of effort, activity, or any experience: to work in snatches.
- Nautical. a sheave or projecting member serving as a fairlead.
- a brief period of time.
- Slang. an act of kidnapping.
- Slang: Vulgar. vulva; vagina.
- Weightlifting. a lift in which the barbell is brought in a single motion from the floor to an arms-extended position overhead.
Origin of snatch
Examples from the Web for snatcher
Historical Examples of snatcher
"It's a corrupt form for snatcher," retorted the March Hare.
Alice in BlunderlandJohn Kendrick Bangs
He said the snatcher was smarter than Auntie and he hoped it would teach her a lesson.
Dorothy's TravelsEvelyn Raymond
At length the Snatcher is weary and pretends to leave the shop.
Indo-China and Its Primitive PeopleHenry Baudesson
The Snatcher, who is no other than the Tiger in human form, darts at the Pig.
Indo-China and Its Primitive PeopleHenry Baudesson
And the snatcher, w'ich was Wicked Willie, relieves 'im of it gently.
The IncendiaryW. A. (William Augustine) Leahy
snatch
- (tr) to seize or grasp (something) suddenly or peremptorilyhe snatched the chocolate out of my hand
- (intr usually foll by at) to seize or attempt to seize suddenly
- (tr) to take hurriedlyto snatch some sleep
- (tr) to remove suddenlyshe snatched her hand away
- (tr) to gain, win, or rescue, esp narrowlythey snatched victory in the closing seconds
- (tr) (in weightlifting) to lift (a weight) with a snatch
- snatch one's time Australian informal to leave a job, taking whatever pay is due
- an act of snatching
- a fragment or small incomplete partsnatches of conversation
- a brief spellsnatches of time off
- weightlifting a lift in which the weight is raised in one quick motion from the floor to an overhead position
- slang, mainly US an act of kidnapping
- British slang a robberya diamond snatch
Word Origin for snatch
Word Origin and History for snatcher
1570s, agent noun from snatch (v.).
snatch
early 13c., "make a sudden snap or bite" (at something), of uncertain origin; perhaps from an unrecorded Old English *snæccan or Middle Dutch snacken "to snatch, chatter." Cf. snack (n.). Meaning "lay hold of suddenly" is from early 14c.; especially "take from someone's hands" (1580s). Weight-lifting sense is attested from 1928. Related: Snatched; snatching.
snatch
c.1300, "a trap, snare," from snatch (v.). Meaning "a sudden grab" is from 1570s; that of "a small amount" is from 1590s. Sense in weight-lifting is from 1928. Vulgar slang sense of "vulva" is recorded from 1903; a much older venereal sense was "sexual intercourse quickly performed" (1580s).