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

• snecker
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of sneck¹

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

Origin of sneck²

1275–1325; Middle English; origin uncertain

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sneck

"Why, the last fratch of all, when Wilson gat the sneck posset frae Shoulthwaite," said Matthew.

From The Shadow of a Crime A Cumbrian Romance by Sir Hall Caine

These quotations will clearly show that "sneck" or "snick" applies to a door; and that to sneck a door is to shut it.

From Notes and Queries, Number 29, May 18, 1850 by Various

The article by R.R. is very interesting, but I apprehend that the passage from Taylor, first quoted by Weber, is sufficient to show that the phrase sneck up was equivalent to be hanged!

From Notes and Queries, Number 30, May 25, 1850 by Various

The deil wins in for the liftin' o' the sneck.

From Malcolm by George MacDonald

At that time, every man had a 'new principle' of his own for the sneck of the shears, some theoretical mode of cutting, which was to make the coat fit like the skin.

From Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 442 Volume 17, New Series, June 19, 1852 by William Chambers

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