sneck

¹ American  

[snek] / snɛk /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. a door latch or its lever.

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sneck ² American  

[snek] / snɛk /

noun

1. a small stone, as a spall, inserted into the spaces between larger pieces of rubble in a wall.

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verb (used with object)

1. to fill (spaces between larger stones) with snecks.

sneck ¹ British  

/ snɛk /

noun

1. a small squared stone used in a rubble wall to fill spaces between stones of different height

2. dialect the latch or catch of a door or gate

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verb

1. dialect to fasten (a latch)

sneck ² British  

/ snɛk /

noun

1. a Scot word for snick

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• snecker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of sneck¹

1275–1325; Middle English snek ( k ); cf. snatch

Origin of sneck²

1275–1325; Middle English; origin uncertain

Example Sentences

"What is a sneck?" asked his lordship, who was not much of a scholar in his country's tongue.

From Malcolm by MacDonald, George

But a better sang it wud tak nor yer ain,   Though ye hae o' notes a feck, To mak the auld Barebanes there sae fain   As to lift the muckle sneck!

From The poetical works of George MacDonald in two volumes — Volume 2 by MacDonald, George

"Man, that's juist the very dollop," says Sandy, as I lifted the sneck.

From My Man Sandy by Salmond, J. B.

Unsneck, un-snek′, v.t. to draw the sneck or bar of a door.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 4 of 4: S-Z and supplements) by Various

In the morning Beatrice was disturbed by the sharp sneck of the hall door.

From The Trespasser by Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert)