A- (3) prefix meaning "not," from Gk a-, an- "not," from pie base *ne "not" (see un-)

snide --- 1859, thieves' slang "counterfeit, sham," of unknown origin. Of persons, "cunning, sharp," from 1883. Sense of "sneering" is first attested 1933.

sniff --- c.1340, of imitative origin; possibly related to snyvelen (see snivel). As a synonym for smell (v.) it dates from 1845. In ref. to cocaine from 1925. The noun is first recorded 1767; the scornful sense is from 1859.

sniffle --- 1819, frequentative form of sniff. The sniffles "runny nose, head cold" is recorded from 1825.

snifter --- 1844, "a drink of liquor," earlier "a sniff," from an obs. verb meaning "to sniff, snivel" (c.1340), of imitative origin. Meaning "large bulbous stemmed glass for drinking brandy" is from 1937. The association of "drinking liquor" with words for "inhaling, snuffling" (e.g. snort) is perhaps borrowed from snuff-taking and the nasal reaction to it.

snigger --- 1706, variant form of snicker (q.v.).

snip --- 1558, "small piece of cut-out cloth," probably from Du. or Low Ger. snippen "to snip, shred," of imitative origin. The verb is attested from 1586. Snippers "scissors" is from 1593. Snippy is 1727 with the meaning "parsimonious;" the sense of "fault-finding, sharp" is first recorded 1848. Snip-snap-snorum, the card game, is 1755, from Low Ger.

snipe (n.) --- long-billed marsh bird, c.1325, from O.N. -snipa in myrisnipa "moor snipe;" perhaps a common Gmc. term (cf. O.S. sneppa, M.Du. snippe, Du. snip, O.H.G. snepfa, Ger. Schnepfe "snipe"). The O.E. name was snite, which is of uncertain derivation. An opprobrious term (cf. guttersnipe) since 1604. The verb meaning "to shoot from a hidden place" is first attested 1773 (among British soldiers in India), in allusion to hunting snipe as game; sniper first attested 1824 in the sense of "sharpshooter."

snippet --- 1664, diminutive form of snip (q.v.).

snit --- state of agitation, fit of temper, 1939, Amer.Eng., of unknown origin.

snitch (n.) --- informer, 1785, probably from underworld slang meaning "the nose" (1700), which apparently developed from an earlier meaning "fillip on the nose" (1676).

snitch (v.) --- 1803, "to inform," from snitch (n.). Meaning "to steal, pilfer" is attested from 1904, perhaps a variant of snatch (v.).

snite --- to blow the nose, c.1100, now Scot. and dial., from O.E. snytan, related to O.N. snyta, M.Du. snuten, O.H.G. snuzen, Ger. schneuzen "to blow one's nose," and to snot.

snivel --- O.E. *snyflan "to run at the nose" (cf. snyflung "running of the nose"), related to snofl "nasal mucus." Meaning "to be in an (affected) tearful state" is from 1690. Snivelling "mean-spirited, weak" is recorded from 1647; Melville coined snivelization (1849).

snob --- 1781, "a shoemaker, a shoemaker's apprentice," of unknown origin. It came to be used in Cambridge University slang c.1796 for "townsman, local merchant," and by 1831 it was being used for "person of the ordinary or lower classes." Meaning "person who vulgarly apes his social superiors" arose 1843, popularized 1848 by William Thackeray's "Book of Snobs." The meaning later broadened to include those who insist on their gentility, in addition to those who merely aspire to it, and by 1911 had its main modern sense of "one who despises those considered inferior in rank, attainment, or taste."

snood --- O.E. snod "ribbon for the hair," from P.Gmc. *snodo (cf. Swed. snod "string, cord"), from PIE base *(s)ne- "to spin, sew" (cf. Lett. snate "a linen cover," O.Ir. snathe "thread;" see needle). Meaning "net or bag worn over a woman's hair" first recorded 1938.

snooker --- 1889, the game and the word said to have been invented in India by British officers as a diversion from billiards. The name is perhaps an allusion (with reference to the rawness of play by a fellow officer) to British slang snooker "newly joined cadet" (1872). Tradition ascribes the coinage to Col. Sir Neville Chamberlain (not the later prime minister of the same name), at the time subaltern in the Devonshire Regiment in Jubbulpore. The verb meaning "to cheat" is from early 1900s, probably because novices can be easily tricked in the game.

snookums --- trivial term of endearment, 1919, from Snooks, proper name used in Britain for "a hypothetical person" (1860), cf. Joe Blow in U.S. As an actual proper name, Snooks sates back to the Domesday Book and may be from O.E. *snoc "a projecting point of land" (perhaps here with sense of "a big nose").

snoop --- 1832, "to go around in a prying manner," Amer.Eng., "to appropriate," probably from Du. snoepen "to pry," also "eat in secret, eat sweets, sneak," probably related to snappen "to bite, snatch" (see snap). Specific meaning "to pry into other people's business" is attested from 1921. The noun meaning "detective" is recorded from 1891. Snoopy (adj.) first recorded 1895.

snoot --- the nose, 1861, originally a Scottish variant of snout. The adj. snooty is first recorded 1919, probably an alteration of snouty (1858), the notion being of looking down one's nose. Snootful "as much (liquor) as one can take" is attested from 1918.

snooze --- 1789, cant word, of unknown origin, perhaps echoic of a snore.

snore --- 1440, probably related to snort and both probably of imitative origin (cf. Du. snorken, M.H.G. snarchen, Ger. schnarchen, Swed. snarka). The noun is from 1605.

snorkel --- 1944, "airshaft for submarines," from Ger. Schnorchel, from Ger. navy slang Schnorchel "nose, snout," related to schnarchen "to snore" (see snore). So called from its resemblance to a nose and its noise when in use. The Anglicized spelling first recorded 1949. The meaning "curved tube used by a swimmer to breathe under water" is first recorded in 1953.

snort --- c.1386, "to snore," probably related to snore. Meaning "breathe through the nose with a harsh sound" first recorded 1530. Sense of "express contempt" is from 1818. Meaning "a drink of liquor" (especially whiskey) is from 1889. The verb meaning "to inhale cocaine" is first attested 1935.

snot --- O.E. gesnot "nasal mucus," from P.Gmc. *snuttan (cf. O.Fris. snotta, M.L.G., M.Du. snotte, M.L.G. snute), from the same base as snout. O.E. also had a verb snite "wipe or pick one's nose." Meaning "despicable person" is from 1809. Snotty "impudent, curt, conceited" first recorded 1870; snotnose "upstart" is from 1941.

snout --- c.1220, "trunk or projecting nose of an animal," from M.L.G. and M.Du. snute "snout," from P.Gmc. *snut- (cf. Ger. Schnauze, Norw. snut, Dan. snude "snout"), related to O.E. gesnot (see snot).

snow (n.) --- O.E. snaw "snow," from P.Gmc. *snaiwaz (cf. O.S., O.H.G. sneo, O.Fris., M.L.G. sne, M.Du. snee, Du. sneeuw, Ger. Schnee, O.N. snjor, Goth. snaiws "snow"), from PIE *sniegwh-/*snoigwho- (cf. Gk. nipha, L. nix (gen. nivis), O.Ir. snechta, Welsh nyf, Lith. sniegas, O.Prus. snaygis, O.C.S. snegu, Rus. snieg', Slovak sneh "snow"). The cognate in Skt., snihyati, came to mean "he gets wet." As slang for "cocaine" it is attested from 1914. Snowshoe first recorded 1674; snowflake is 1734; snowplow is from 1792, first mentioned in a New Hampshire context; snowman is from 1827; snowmobile first attested 1931, in ref. to Admiral Byrd's expedition.

snow (v.) --- c.1300, replacing O.E. sniwan, which would have yielded modern snew (which existed as a parallel form until 17c. and, in Yorkshire, even later), from the root of snow (n.).

snowball (n.) --- c.1400, from snow (n.) + ball (n.). The verb meaning "to make snowballs" is from 1684; sense of "to throw snowballs at" (someone) is from 1850. Meaning "to increase rapidly" is attested from 1929, though the image of a snowball increasing in size as it rolls along had been used since at least 1613, and a noun sense of "a pyramid scheme" is attested from 1892. Snowball's chance (in hell) is first recorded 1934.

snub (v.) --- c.1340, "to check, reprove, rebuke," from O.N. snubba "to curse, scold, reprove." Meaning "treat coldly" appeared early 18c. The adj. meaning "short and turned up" (of the nose) is first recorded 1724. The connecting notion is of being "cut short."

snudge --- a miser, a mean avaricious person, 1545, "very common from c.1550-1610" [OED].

snuff (n.) --- powdered tobacco to be inhaled, 1683, from Du. or Flem. snuf, shortened form of snuftabak "snuff tobacco," from snuffen "to sniff, snuff" (see snuff (v.2)). The practice became fashionable in England c.1680. Snuff-box is attested from 1687.

snuff (v.1) --- to cut or pinch off the burned part of a candle wick, c.1450, from noun snoffe "burned part of a candle wick" (1382), of unknown origin, perhaps related to snuff (v.2). The meaning "to die" is from 1865; that of "to kill" is from 1932; snuff-film, urban legend, is from 1975.

snuff (v.2) --- draw in through the nose, 1527, from Du. or Flem. snuffen "to sniff, snuff," related to Du. snuiven "to sniff," from P.Gmc. *snuf- (cf. M.H.G. snupfe, Ger. Schnupfen "head-cold"), imitative of the sound of drawing air through the nose.

snuffle --- 1583, from Du. or Flem. snuffelen "to sniff about, pry," related to Du. and Flem. snuffen "to sniff" (see snuff (2)).

snug --- c.1595, "compact, trim" (of a ship), perhaps from a Scand. source, cf. O.N. snoggr "short-haired," Swed. snygg, Dan. snøg "neat, tidy." Sense of "in a state of ease or comfort" first recorded 1630. Meaning "fit closely" is first found 1838.

snuggle --- 1687, frequentative form of snug.

so --- O.E. swa, swæ "in this way," from P.Gmc. *swa (cf. O.S., M.Du., O.H.G. so, O.N. sva, Dan. saa, Swed. sa, O.Fris. sa, Du. zo, Ger. so "so," Goth. swa "as"), from PIE reflexive pronomial stem *s(w)o- (cf. Gk. hos "as," O.Latin suad "so," L. se "himself"). So? as a term of dismissal is attested from 1886 (short for is that so?); so what as an exclamation of indifference dates from 1934. So-so "mediocre" is from 1530; so-and-so is from 1596 meaning "something unspecified;" first recorded 1897 as a euphemistic term of abuse.

so long --- parting salutation, 1860, of unknown origin, perhaps from a Ger. idiom (cf. Ger. parting salutation adieu so lange, the full sense of which probably is something like "farewell, whilst (we're apart)"), perhaps from Heb. shalom (via Yiddish sholom). Some have noted a similarity to Scand. leave-taking phrases, cf. Norw. Adjø så lenge, Farvel så lenge, Mor’n så lenge, lit. "bye so long, farewell so long, morning so long;" and Swed. Hej så länge "good-bye for now," with så länge "for now" attested since 1850 according to Swed. sources. Most etymology sources seem to lean toward the Ger. origin. Earlier guesses that it was a sailors' corruption of a South Pacific form of Arabic salaam are not now regarded as convincing. "Dictionary of American Slang" also adds to the list of candidates Ir. slan "health," said to be used as a toast and a salutation. The phrase seems to have turned up simultaneously in Amer.Eng., Britain, and perhaps Canada, originally among lower classes. First attested use is in title and text of the last poem in Whitman's "Leaves of Grass" in the 1860 edition.

soak --- O.E. socian (related to sucan "to suck"), from P.Gmc. *sukon (cf. W.Flem. soken), from PIE base *seue- "to take liquid" (see sup (2)). Slang meaning "to overcharge" first recorded 1895.

soap --- O.E. sape "soap" (originally a reddish hair dye used by Gmc. warriors to give a frightening appearance), from W.Gmc. *saipo- "dripping thing, resin" (cf. M.L.G. sepe, W.Fris. sjippe, Du. zeep, O.H.G. seiffa, Ger. seife "soap," O.H.G. seifar "foam," O.E. sipian "to drip"), from PIE base *seib- "to pour out, drip, trickle" (cf. L. sebum "tallow, suet, grease"). Romans and Greeks used oil to clean skin; the Romance language words for "soap" (cf. It. sapone, Fr. savon, Sp. jabon) are from L.L. sapo (first mentioned in Pliny), which is a Gmc. loan-word, as is Finnish saippua. The meaning "flattery" is recorded from 1853. The verb is first attested 1585. Soapstone (1681) is occasionally used for cleaning.

soap box --- 1660, box for holding soap, later esp. a wooden crate in which soap may be packed. Typical of a makeshift stand for a public orator since at least 1907. Also used by children to make racing carts, cf. soap-box derby, annual race in Dayton, Ohio, which dates back to 1933.

soap opera --- 1939 (sponsors were often soap manufacturers), from earlier horse opera "a Western" (1927); shortened form soap first attested 1943.

soar --- c.1374, from O.Fr. essorer "fly up, soar," from V.L. *exaurare "rise into the air," from L. ex- "out" + aura "breeze, air."

sob (v.) --- c.1200, probably of imitative origin, related to O.E. seofian "to lament," O.H.G. sufan "to draw breath," W.Fris. sobje "to suck." The noun is attested from c.1374. Sob story is from 1913. Sob sister "female journalist who writes sentimental stories or advice columns" is from 1912.

sobeit --- 1583, from so be it, a rare survival of the Eng. subjunctive.

sober --- c.1300, "grave, serious, solemn," from O.Fr. sobre, from L. sobrius "not drunk, temperate," from se- "without" + ebrius "drunk," of unknown origin. Sense of "moderate, temperate," especially "abstaining from strong drink" is first attested 1338; meaning "not drunk at the moment" is from 1387. The verb meaning "to become sober" is attested from 1820 (usually with up). Sobersides "sedate, serious-minded person" is recorded from 1705.

sobriquet --- 1646, from Fr. sobriquet "nickname," from M.Fr. soubriquet, lit. "a chuck under the chin," of unknown origin (first element probably from L. sub "under").

soccer --- 1889, socca, later socker (1891), soccer (1895), originally university slang, from a shortened form of Assoc., abbreviation of association in Football Association (as opposed to Rugby football); cf. rugger, but they hardly could have taken the first three letters of Assoc.

sociable --- 1553, from L. sociabilis "close, intimate," from sociare "to join, unite," from socius "companion" (see social).

social (adj.) --- 1505 (implied in socially), "characterized by friendliness or geniality," also "allied, associated," from M.Fr. social (14c.), from L. socialis "united, living with others," from socius "companion," probably originally "follower," and related to sequi "to follow" (cf. O.E. secg, O.N. seggr "companion," which seem to have been formed on the same notion; see sequel). Meaning "living or liking to live with others, disposed to friendly intercourse" is attested from 1729. Meaning "pertaining to society as a natural condition of human life" first attested 1695, in Locke. Social climber is from 1926; social work is 1890; social worker 1904. Social drink(ing) first attested 1976. Social studies as an inclusive term for history, geography, economics, etc., is attested from 1938. Social security "system of state support for needy citizens" is attested from 1908.

social (n.) --- friendly gathering, 1870, from social (adj.).

socialist --- 1827, from Fr. socialiste, in reference to the teachings of Comte de Saint-Simon, founder of Fr. socialism. Socialism is attested from 1837, apparently first in reference to Robert Owen's communes. "Pierre Leroux (1797-1871), idealistic social reformer and Saint-Simonian publicist, expressly claims to be the originator of the word socialisme" [Klein]. The word begins to be used in Fr. in the modern sense c.1835. Socialista, with a different sense, was applied 18c. to followers and pupils of Du. jurist Grotius (1583-1645).

socialite --- 1928, probably a coinage among writers and editors at "Time" magazine, perhaps as a contraction of social light, in imitation of words in -ite.

socialize --- 1828, "to render social," from social (adj.). Meaning "to be sociable, to mingle" is recorded from 1895. Socialization "process of making social" is from 1840.

society --- 1531, "friendly association with others," from O.Fr. societe, from L. societatem (nom. societas), from socius "companion" (see social). Meaning "group of people living together in an ordered community" is from 1639. Sense of "fashionable people and their doings" is first recorded 1823.

Socinian --- 1645, from Faustus Socinus, Latinized name of Fausto Sozzini (1539–1604), Italian theologian who denied the divinity of Christ, broke with the Church, and organized the Polish Brethren.

socio- --- combining form of L. socius "companion, associate" (see social). Common in compounds since c.1880, e.g. sociobiology "study of the biological basis of social behavior" (1946); socio-economic (1883).

sociology --- 1843, from Fr. sociologie, a hybrid coined 1830 by Fr. philosopher Isidore Auguste Comte (1798-1857), from L. socius "associate" + Gk.-derived suffix -logie "-logy."

sociopath --- 1930, coined by psychologist G.E. Partridge from socio- on model of psychopath.

sock (n.) --- O.E. socc "light slipper," a W.Gmc. borrowing from L. soccus "light low-heeled shoe," variant of Gk. sykchos "a kind of shoe," perhaps from Phrygian or another Asiatic language. The verb meaning "to stash (money) away as savings" is attested from 1942, Amer.Eng., from the notion of hiding one's money in a sock. To knock the socks off (someone) "beat thoroughly" is recorded from 1845, Amer.Eng. colloquial. Teen slang sock hop is c.1950, from notion of dancing without shoes.

sock (v.) --- 1700, "to beat, hit," of uncertain origin. To sock it to (someone) first recorded 1877.

sockdolager --- 1830, "a decisive blow," fanciful formation from sock (v.) "hit hard;" also said to be a variant of doxology, on a notion of "finality." The meaning "something exceptional" is attested from 1838. Sockdologising was nearly the last word President Abraham Lincoln heard. During the performance of Tom Taylor's "Our American Cousin," assassin John Wilkes Booth (who knew the play well) waited for the line "Well, I guess I know enough to turn you inside out, you sockdologising old man-trap," and as the audience laughed, Booth fired the fatal shot.

socket --- c.1300, "spearhead" (originally one shaped like a plowshare), from Anglo-Fr. soket "spearhead" (c.1260), dim. of O.Fr. soc "plowshare," from V.L. *soccus, probably from a Gaulish source, cf. Welsh swch "plowshare," Middle Irish soc "plowshare," prop. "hog's snout," cognate with L. sus "swine;" see sow (n.) "female pig." Meaning "hollow part or piece for receiving and holding something" first recorded 1448; anatomical sense is from 1601; domestic electrical sense first recorded 1885. Socket wrench is attested from 1905.

socratic --- 1637, "of or pertaining to Gk. philosopher Socrates" (469-399 B.C.E.), especially in reference to his method of eliciting truth by question and answer. His name is Gk. Sokrates, lit. "having safe might."

sod (1) --- slice of earth with grass on it, c.1420, apparently from M.Du. sode "turf," M.L.G. sode, or O.Fris. satha "sod," all of uncertain origin. The (old) sod "Ireland" is from 1812.

sod (2) --- term of abuse, 1818, short for sodomite (see sodomy). British colloquial sod-all "nothing" is attested from 1958.

soda --- 1471, "alkaline substance," from It. sida (or M.L. soda) "a kind of saltwort," from which soda is obtained, probably from Arabic suwwad, the name of a variety of saltwort exported from North Africa to Sicily in the Middle Ages, related to sawad "black," the color of the plant. The meaning "carbonated water" is first recorded 1834, a shortening of soda water (1802). Soda fountain is from 1824; soda jerk first attested 1883. First record of soda pop is from 1873.

sodality --- companionship, fellowship, 1600, from M.Fr. sodalité, from L. sodalitatem (nom. sodalitas) "companionship, a brotherhood," from sodalis "companion," related to suescere "to accustom" (see mansuetude). Especially of religious guilds in the Catholic Church.

sodden --- O.E. soden, strong pp. of seoþan "to cook, boil" (see seethe). Originally "boiled;" sense of "soaked" is first recorded 1820.

sodium --- metallic alkaline element, 1807, coined by Eng. chemist Humphry Davy from soda; so called because the element was isolated from caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). The chemical symbol Na is from Natrium.

sodomy --- c.1297, from O.Fr. sodomie, from L.L. peccatum Sodomiticum "anal sex," lit. "sin of Sodom," from L. Sodoma, ult. from Heb. s'dom "Sodom," morally corrupt city in ancient Palestine, said to have been destroyed, with neighboring Gomorrah, by fire from heaven (Gen. xviii-xix). Sodomize coined 1868. In Du. slang, besodemieteren means "to deceive," and evidently is built from the traditional notion of "corruption" in Sodom.

sofa --- 1625, "raised section of a floor, covered with carpets and cushions," from Turk. sofa, from Ar. suffah "bench." Meaning "long stuffed seat for reclining" is recorded from 1717.

soffit --- 1613, from It. soffita, fem. of soffitto "ceiling," originally "fixed beneath," from L. sub- "under" + pp. of figere "to fix, fasten" (see fix).

soft --- O.E. softe "gentle, easy, comfortable," from W.Gmc. *samfti, from P.Gmc. *samftijaz "level, even, smooth, gentle, soft" (cf. O.S. safti, O.H.G. semfti, Ger. sanft, M.Du. sachte, Du. zacht), from base *som- "fitting, agreeable." Sense of "causing little hardship or suffering" attested from c.1205. Of sounds, from c.1250. Meaning "foolish, simple, silly" is attested from 1621. Adjective soft core (in ref. to pornography) is from 1966. Soft rock as a music style is attested from 1969. Soft sell is from 1955. Soft-shoe as a dancing style is attested from 1927. Soft-hearted first recorded 1593.

softball --- baseball of larger than usual size, used in a scaled-down version of the game, 1914, from soft + ball. The game itself so called from 1926, earlier known as playground baseball. The word earlier was a term in sugar candy making (1894). Softball question, one that is easy to answer, is attested from 1976.

soften --- c.1385, "to mitigate, diminish," from soft (adj.). Meaning "to make physically soft" is from 1530; intrans. sense of "to become softer" is attested from 1611.

software --- 1851, "woolen or cotton fabrics," also, "relatively perishable consumer goods," from soft + ware (n.). The computer sense is a separate coinage from 1960, based on hardware.

soggy --- 1722, perhaps from dialectal sog "bog, swamp" (1538), or from sog "become soaked" (1440), both of unknown origin, perhaps related to soak.

Soho --- district in New York city, 1970s, from "South of Houston Street," but probably also echoing the name of the London neighborhood (famous for vice), which was so called since at least 1632, originally "So Ho," a hunting cry (c.1307), the West End district so called from earlier association of this area with hunting.

soil (n.) --- the earth or ground, c.1300, from Anglo-Fr. soil "piece of ground, place" (13c.), from L. solium "seat," meaning confused with that of L. solum "soil, ground." Meaning "mould, earth, dirt" (especially that which plants grow in) is attested from c.1440.

soil (v.) --- c.1225, "to defile or pollute with sin," from O.Fr. souillier "to foul or make dirty," originally "to wallow," from souil "tub, wild boar's wallow, pigsty," either from L. solium "tub for bathing, seat," or from L. suculus "little pig," from sus "pig." Meaning "to make dirty, begrime" is attested from c.1297. This is the sense of the noun in archaic night-soil.

soiree --- an evening party, 1793, from Fr. soirée, from soir "evening," from O.Fr. soir, from L. sero (adv.) "late, at a late hour," from serum "late hour," neut. of serus "late."

sojourn --- c.1290, from O.Fr. sojorner "stay or dwell for a time," from V.L. *subdiurnare "to spend the day," from L. sub- "under, until" + diurnus "of a day," from diurnum "day" (see diurnal). Fr. séjourner formed via vowel dissimilation.

soke --- right of jurisdiction, O.E. socn "jurisdiction, prosecution," related to sacan "to quarrel," secan "to seek" (see seek).

Sol --- the sun, c.1450, from L. sol "the sun," from PIE *s(e)wol-, from base *saewel- "to shine, the sun" (cf. Skt. suryah, Avestan hvar "sun, light, heavens;" Gk. helios; Lith. saule; O.C.S. slunice; Goth. sauil, O.E. sol "sun," swegl "sky, heavens, the sun;" Welsh haul, O.Cornish heuul, Breton heol "sun;" O.Ir. suil "eye"). The PIE element -*el- in the root originally was a suffix and had an alternate form -*en-, yielding *s(u)wen-, source of Eng. sun (q.v.).