Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To latch (a door or window).

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A reproof; a reprimand; a snub.
  • To check; reprimand; snub; sneap or sneb.
  • In lumbering, to allow one's self to be carried away (ostensibly by accident) on the first portion of a jam that moves; ride away from work under the guise of being accidentally carried off in river-driving.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • transitive verb obsolete To check; to sneap; to sneb.
  • noun obsolete A reprimand; a snub.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Scotland A latch or fastening for a door, window etc.
  • noun obsolete A reprimand; a snub.
  • verb Scotland To latch (a door, window etc.).

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Origin unknown.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Origin uncertain.

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Examples

  • He pressed the snib to unlatch the lid of the case.

    It's October, 1956. Shelagh Power-Chopra 2010

  • He pressed the snib to unlatch the lid of the case.

    Boiling a Frog Brookmyre, Christopher, 1968- 2005

  • He heard the lock snib before she turned and surveyed him, then, head rising, crossed the room to him.

    The Perfect Lover Laurens, Stephanie 2003

  • He pressed the snib to unlatch the lid of the case.

    Boiling a frog Brookmyre, Christopher, 1968- 2000

  • She was no curtaintwitcher, like many round here, and despite the torrential flow of other people's business through what was not just her home but her business, she had never succumbed to the temptation to poke her snib in where it hadn't been invited.

    Quite Ugly One Morning Brookmyre, Christopher, 1968- 1996

  • Well, perhaps not worldly-wise, not wise enough to know how snib locks and human minds worked, but wise in other ways.

    Strip Jack Rankin, Ian, 1960- 1992

  • Anyway, if Kemp came to the door he'd notice the snib was off ...

    Strip Jack Rankin, Ian, 1960- 1992

  • Gently, Rebus turned the snib and locked it at the off position.

    Strip Jack Rankin, Ian, 1960- 1992

  • Monica closed it gently down, and fastened the snib.

    Beyond the City Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir, 1859-1930 1982

  • It was the same as all the others: a sash window with a snib locking the upper to the lower frame.

    Tied Up in Tinsel Marsh, Ngaio, 1895-1982 1972

Comments

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  • "1. In lumbering, to allow one's self to be carried away (ostensibly by accident) on the first portion of a jam that moves; ride away from work under the guise of being accidentally carried off in river-driving." --Cent. Dict.

    September 1, 2011