snifter
Americannoun
-
Also called inhaler. a pear-shaped glass, narrowing at the top to intensify the aroma of brandy, liqueur, etc.
-
Informal. a very small drink of liquor.
noun
-
a pear-shaped glass with a short stem and a bowl that narrows towards the top so that the aroma of brandy or a liqueur is retained
-
informal a small quantity of alcoholic drink
Etymology
Origin of snifter
1840–50; derivative of snifter to sniff, snivel, Middle English snyfter; imitative
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Phileas Fogg, played by David Tennant, utters these words in disbelief but also in celebration over a snifter of brandy in the finale of "Around the World in 80 Days."
From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2022
The brandy snifter portrait is as American as hip-hop, acid-washed jeans and plastic-covered sofas.
From New York Times ● Jan. 9, 2022
Eaton did piano bar work in hotel lounges, too, what he calls “saloon playing”: a greenback-stuffed snifter displayed prominently.
From Washington Post ● Nov. 6, 2019
“In 1955, a gun onstage was like a brandy snifter — just ye olde prop,” said Mathew Wright, director of “Office Hour” at ArtsWest.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2019
He leans forward and lifts a snifter from the table.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
