snuffle

[ snuhf-uhl ]

verb (used without object)

, snuf·fled, snuf·fling.

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.

verb (used with object)

, snuf·fled, snuf·fling.

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

/ ˈsnʌfəl /

verb

1. intr to breathe noisily or with difficulty
2. to say or speak in a nasal tone
3. intr to snivel

noun

1. an act or the sound of snuffling
2. a nasal tone or voice
3. the snuffles
   a condition characterized by snuffling

Derived Forms

• ˈsnuffly, adjective
• ˈsnuffler, noun

Other Words From

• snuf·fler noun
• snuf·fling·ly adverb
• snuf·fly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of snuffle¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of snuffle¹

C16: from Low German or Dutch snuffelen; see snuff ¹, snivel

Example Sentences

Heralded by the snuffle of the horses, light began glimmering over a chaos of lines and shadows, pale as mother-o'-pearl.

From Project Gutenberg

Smoke: Snuffle the nose and raise the fingers of both hands several times, rubbing the fingers against each other.

From Project Gutenberg

If he snuffle at the nose, he must snuffle cheerfully and with hope.

From Project Gutenberg

Glory, who had been dozing in the sun, rose and prowled restlessly over to snuffle at the woodpile.

From Project Gutenberg

There came a kind of Highland snuffle out of the man that raised my dander strangely.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• grunt
• mumble
• mutter