snuffle

American  

[snuhf-uhl] / ˈsnʌf əl /

verb (used without object)

snuffled, snuffling

1. to draw air into the nose for the purpose of smelling something; snuff.

2. to draw the breath or mucus through the nostrils in an audible or noisy manner; sniffle.

3. to speak through the nose or with a nasal twang.

4. to whine; snivel.

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verb (used with object)

snuffled, snuffling

1. to utter in a nasal tone.

noun

1. an act or sound of breathing loudly through the nose.

2. (the) snuffles, a condition of the nose, such as from a cold, causing a person to breath or draw mucus through the nostrils noisily.

3. a nasal tone of voice.

snuffle British  

/ ˈsnʌfəl /

verb

1. (intr) to breathe noisily or with difficulty

2. to say or speak in a nasal tone

3. (intr) to snivel

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noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffling

2. a nasal tone or voice

3. a condition characterized by snuffling

Other Word Forms

• snuffler noun
• snufflingly adverb
• snuffly adjective

Etymology

Origin of snuffle

First recorded in 1575–85, for an earlier sense; 1595–1605, for the current sense; from Dutch snuffelen “to nose (in something),” literally, “to sniff repeatedly,” from snuffen “to sniff,” with -el-, frequentative infix; equivalent to snuff ¹ ( def. ) + -le

Example Sentences

Lying on his side on a dark summer night earlier this year, Sir David Attenborough is watching a hedgehog snuffling around an urban garden.

From BBC

A snuffling, wheezing sound came from the corner.

From Literature

Perhaps the cub sniffs and snuffles around looking for her, but it’s unlikely that the cub is frightened.

From Literature

Other days, the project manager will play with her pup at home or throw a few treats in a snuffle mat.

From Los Angeles Times

Two matchboxes over, Beatrice snuffled in her sleep.

From Literature

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• grunt
• mumble
• mutter