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

slut --- 1402, "a dirty, slovenly, or untidy woman," probably cognate with dialectal Ger. Schlutt "slovenly woman," dialectal Swed. slata "idle woman, slut," and Du. slodder "slut," but the ultimate origin is doubtful. Chaucer uses sluttish (c.1386) in ref. to the appearance of an untidy man. Also "a kitchen maid, a drudge" (c.1450; hard pieces in a bread loaf from imperfect kneading were called slut's pennies, 18c.). Meaning "woman of loose character, bold hussy" is attested from c.1450; playful use of the word, without implication of loose morals, is attested from 1664.

sly --- c.1200, from O.N. sloegr "cunning, crafty, sly," from P.Gmc. *slogis (cf. Low Ger. slu "cunning, sly"), probably from base *slog- "hit" (see slay), with an original notion of "able to hit." Cf. Ger. verschlagen "cunning, crafty, sly," schlagfertig "quick-witted," lit. "ready to strike," from schlagen "to strike." A non-pejorative use of the word lingered in northern Eng. dialect until 20c. On the sly "in secret" is recorded from 1812. Sly-boots "a seeming Silly, but subtil Fellow" is in the 1700 "Dictionary of the Canting Crew."

smack (n.1) --- taste, flavor, now mainly in verbal figurative use smacks of ... (first attested 1595), from O.E. smæc, from P.Gmc. *smak- (cf. O.Fris. smek, Du. smaak, O.H.G. smac, Ger. Geschmack); probably related to Lith. smaguriai "dainties," smagus "pleasing." Meaning "a trace (of something)" is attested from 1539.

smack (n.2) --- single-masted sailboat, 1611, probably from Du. or Low Ger. smak "sailboat," from smakken "to fling, dash" (see smack (v.2)), perhaps so-called from the sound made by its sails. Fr. semaque, Sp. zumaca, It. semacca probably are Gmc. borrowings.

smack (n.3) --- heroin, 1942, Amer.Eng. slang, probably an alteration of schmeck "a drug," esp. heroin (1932), from Yiddish schmeck "a sniff."

smack (v.1) --- make a sharp noise with the lips, 1557, probably of imitative origin (see smack (v.2)). Meaning "a loud kiss" is recorded from 1604. With adverbial force, attested from 1782; extended form smack-dab is attested from 1892, Amer.Eng. colloquial.

smack (v.2) --- to slap with the hand, 1835, from noun in this sense (c.1746), perhaps influenced by Low Ger. smacken "to strike, throw," which is likely of imitative origin (cf. Swed. smak "slap," M.L.G. smacken, Fris. smakke, Du. smakken "to fling down," Lith. smagiu "to strike, knock down, whip").

smacker --- money, c.1918, Amer.Eng. slang, perhaps from smack (v.1) on notion of something "smacked" into the palm of the hand. Extended form smackeroo is attested from 1940.

smaik --- mean or contemptible fellow, Scottish, now archaic, current c.1450-c.1900, perhaps cognate with O.H.G. smeichari, from smeken "to flatter."

small --- O.E. smæl "slender, narrow, small," from P.Gmc. *smalaz (cf. O.S., Dan., Swed., M.Du., Du., O.H.G. smal, O.Fris. smel, Ger. schmal "narrow," Goth. smalista "smallest," O.N. smali "small cattle, sheep"), perhaps from a PIE base *(s)melo- "smaller animal" (cf. Gk. melon, O.Ir. mil "a small animal;" O.C.S. malu "bad"). Original sense of "narrow" now almost obsolete, except in ref. to waistline and intestines.

smallpox --- 1518, small pokkes, as distinguished from great pox "syphillis" (see pox). Cf. Fr. petite vérole.

small-time (adj.) --- 1910, originally theater slang for lower-salaried circuits, or ones requiring more daily performances.

smarmy --- ingratiating, unctuous, 1924, from smarm "to behave in a flattering way" (1920), variant of colloquial smalm, smawm (1847) "to smear, bedaub" (the hair, with pomade) of unknown origin.

smart (adj.) --- late O.E. smeart "sharp, severe, stinging," related to smeortan (see smart (v.)). Meaning "quick, active, clever" is attested from c.1303, probably from the notion of "cutting" wit, words, etc.; meaning "trim in attire" first attested 1718, "ascending from the kitchen to the drawing-room c.1880." [Weekley] In ref. to devices, "behaving as though guided by intelligence" (e.g. smart bomb) first attested 1972. Smarts "good sense, intelligence," is first recorded 1968. Smart aleck is from 1865, perhaps in allusion to Aleck Hoag, notorious pimp, thief, and confidence man in New York City in early 1840s. Smart cookie is from 1948; smarty-pants first attested 1941.

smart (v.) --- O.E. smeortan "be painful," from W.Gmc. *smert- (cf. M.Du. smerten, Du. smarten, O.H.G. smerzan, Ger. schmerzen "to pain," originally "to bite"), from PIE base *(s)merd-, from base *(s)mer- "to rub, pound" (cf. Gk. smerdnos "terrible, dreadful," Skt. mardayati "grinds, rubs, crushes," L. mordere to bite").

smart money --- money bet by those in the know, 1926, from smart (adj.). The same phrase earlier meant "money paid to sailors, soldiers, workers, etc., who have been disabled while on the job" (1693), from a noun derivative of smart (v.).

smarten --- to make smart, to spruce up, to improve appearance, 1815 (in "Emma"), from smart (adj.).

smartmouth (n.) --- 1968, from smart (adj.) + mouth.

smash (n.) --- 1839, "failure, financial collapse," from smash (v.). Tennis sense is from 1882. Meaning "great success" is from 1923 ("Variety" headline, Oct. 16, in ref. to Broadway productions of "The Fool" and "The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly").

smash (v.) --- 1778, "break to pieces," earlier "kick downstairs" (c.1700), probably of imitative origin (cf. smack, mash). Smashed "drunk" is slang from 1962. Smash-up "collision" is recorded from 1856; smash-and-grab is first attested 1927. Smashing "pleasing, sensational" is from 1911.

smatter --- c.1410, "talk idly, chatter," perhaps imitative. Similar forms are found in M.H.G. smetern "to chatter" and Swed. smattra "to patter, rattle." Smatterer "one who has superficial knowledge" is attested from c.1519.

smear (v.) --- O.E. smerian "to anoint or rub with grease, oil, etc.," from P.Gmc. *smerthan (cf. O.N. smyrva, Dan. smøre, Swed. smörja, Du. smeren, O.H.G. smirwen, Ger. schmieren "to smear"), from PIE *smeru- "grease" (cf. Gk. myron "unguent, balsam," O.Ir. smi(u)r "marrow," O.E. smeoru "fat, grease"). Sense of "assault a public reputation with unsubstantiated charges" is from 1879. Noun meaning "mark or stain left by smearing" is first recorded 1611; sense of "small quantity prepared for microscopic examination" is from 1903.

smegma --- 1819, from L., from Gk. smegma "a detergent," from smekhein "to wipe off, wipe clean, cleanse," from PIE base *(s)mei- "to rub" (cf. Czech smetana "cream").

smell (v.) --- c.1175, "emit or perceive an odor," also n., "odor, aroma, stench," not found in O.E., perhaps cognate with M.Du. smolen, Low Ger. smelen "to smolder" (see smolder). OED says "no doubt of O.E. origin, but not recorded, and not represented in any of the cognate languages." Ousted O.E. stenc (see stench) in most senses. Someone should revive smell-feast (n.) "one who scents out where free food is to be had" (1519, "very common" c.1540-1700, OED) and smell-smock "licentious man" (c.1550-1900). To smell a rat "be suspicious" is from 1550.

smelt (n.) --- O.E. smelt "small salmon-like sea fish," cognate with Du. smelt "sand eel," Dan. smelt (c.1600). OED notes that it has a peculiar odor (but doesn't suggest a connection with smell); Klein suggests a connection with the way the fish melts in one's mouth.

smelt (v.) --- 1455 (implied in smelter), from Du. or Low Ger. smelten, cognate with O.H.G. smelzan, Ger. schmelzen "to melt;" apparently a variant of the stem of O.E. meltan "to melt" (see melt).

SMERSH --- Soviet Army counter-espionage organization begun during World War II, 1953, from Rus. abbrev. of smert' shpionam "death to spies." Introduced in Eng. by Ian Flemming.

smidgen --- 1845, perhaps from Scot. smitch "very small amount, small insignificant person" (1822), perhaps from smidin "small syllable." Short form smidge is attested from 1905, Amer.Eng. dial.

smile (v.) --- c.1300, perhaps from M.L.G. *smilen or a Scand. source (e.g. Dan. smile, Swed. smila "smile"), from PIE base *smei- (cf. O.E. smerian "to laugh at," O.H.G. smieron "to smile," L. mirus "wonderful"). Gradually pushed the usual O.E. word, smearcian (modern smirk), into a specific, unpleasant sense. The noun is from 1562. Romance, Celtic, and Slavic languages tend to use a dim. of the word for "laugh" to mean "smile" (cf. L. ridere "laugh;" subridere "smile"), with perhaps a literal notion of "small laugh," or "low laugh."

smirch --- 1495, "to discolor, to make dirty," perhaps from O.Fr. esmorcher "to torture," perhaps also "befoul, stain," from es- "out" + morcher "to bite," from L. morsus, pp. of mordere "to bite" (see smart (v.)). Sense of "dishonor, disgrace, discredit" first attested 1820.

smirk (v.) --- O.E. smearcian "to smile." No exact cognates in other languages, but perhaps related to smerian "to laugh at" (see smile (v.)). The noun is first recorded c.1560.

Smirnoff --- proprietary name of a brand of vodka, said to have been in use since 1914.

smite --- O.E. smitan "to hit, strike, beat" (strong verb, pt. smat, pp. smiten), from P.Gmc. *smitanan (cf. Swed. smita, Dan. smide "to smear, fling," O.Fris. smita, M.L.G., M.Du. smiten "to cast, fling," Du. smijten "to throw," O.H.G. smizan "to rub, strike," Ger. schmeißen "to cast, fling," Goth. bismeitan "to spread, smear"), perhaps from PIE base *(s)mei- "to smear, to rub," but original sense in Gmc. seems to be of throwing. Sense of "slay in combat" (c.1300) is originally Biblical, smite to death, first attested c.1200. Smitten in the sense of "inspired with love" is from 1663.

smith --- O.E. smið "one who works in metal" (jewelers as well as blacksmiths), from P.Gmc. *smithaz "skilled worker" (cf. O.S. smith, O.N. smiðr, Dan. smed, O.Fris. smith, O.H.G. smid, Ger. Schmied, Goth. -smiþa, in aiza-smiþa "coppersmith"), from PIE base *smei- "to carve, cut" (cf. Gk. smile "knife, chisel"). Attested as a surname since at least c.975. Smithy is from O.E. smiððe, from P.Gmc. *smithjon.

Smith & Wesson --- prop. name of a type of firearm, 1860, from the gunsmith firm of Horace Smith (1808-93) and Daniel B. Wesson (1825-1906) in Springfield, Massachusetts.

smithereens --- fragments, 1829, from Ir. smidirin, dim. of smiodar "fragment," perhaps with dim. ending as in Colleen.

Smithfield --- place in London, celebrated since at least 17c. as a market for cattle and horses, later the central meat market. In various colloquial expressions. Originally Smethefield, from O.E. smethe "smooth." Smithfield ham (1908, Amer.Eng.) is from a town of that name in Virginia.

Smithsonian --- Smithsonian Institute, named for founder James Smithson (1765-1829).

smock --- O.E. smoc "woman's garment," from P.Gmc. *smukkaz (cf. O.N. smokkr, but this is perhaps from O.E., O.H.G. smoccho "smock," a rare word, N.Fris. smok, but this, too, perhaps from Eng.), from PIE base *smeugh- "to press" (cf. O.C.S. smykati se "to creep"). Original notion seems to be "garment one creeps into," as the word is related to O.N. smjuga "to creep into (a garment)" and O.E. smugan "to creep" and smygel "a burrow." Cf. also Ger. schmiegen "to cling to, to press close, nestle," hence M.H.G. verb smucken, Ger. schmucken "to adorn." Eng. smock was common down to 18c., and was emblematic of womanhood generally, cf. verb smock "to render (a man) effeminate or womanish" (1614); smock-face "person having a pale, effeminate face" (1605). Replaced by euphemistic shift (n.2). Modern meaning "woman's or child's loose dress or blouse" is from 1907; sense of "loose garment worn by artists over other clothes" is from 1938.

smog --- 1905, blend of smoke and fog, formed "after Lewis Carrol's example" [Klein; see portmanteau]. Reputedly coined in ref. to London, and first attested there in a paper read by Dr. H.A. des Voeux, treasurer of the Coal Smoke Abatement Society, though he seems not to have claimed credit for coining it.

smoke (n.1) --- late O.E. smoca, related to smeocan "give off smoke," from P.Gmc. *smeukanan (cf. M.Du. smooc, Du. smook, M.H.G. smouch, Ger. Schmauch), from PIE base *smeug(h)- "to smoke" (cf. Arm. mux "smoke," Gk. smykhein "to burn with smoldering flame," O.Ir. much, Welsh mwg "smoke"). Smokestack is from 1862; smoke-eater "firefighter" is c.1930. Phrase go up in smoke "be destroyed" is from 1933. smoke alarm first attested 1936.

smoke (n.2) --- cigarette, slang, 1882, from smoke (n.1). Also "opium" (1884). Meaning "a spell of smoking tobacco" is recorded from 1835.

smoke (v.) --- O.E. smocian "to produce smoke," see smoke (n.). Meaning "to drive out or away or into the open by means of smoke" is attested from 1593. Meaning "to cure (bacon, fish, etc.) by exposure to smoke" is first attested 1599. In connection with tobacco, the verb is first recorded 1604 in James I's "Counterblast to Tobacco." Smoking gun in figurative sense of "incontestable evidence" is from 1974.

smoke screen --- 1915, as a form of military camouflage, from smoke (n.1); 1926 in the fig. sense. The association of smoke with "deception, deliberate obscurity" dates back to at least 1565.

Smokey Bear --- state policeman, 1974, from truckers' slang, in ref. to the wide-brim style of hat worn by state troopers.

smolder --- c.1300 (implied in smoldering), "to smother, suffocate," cognate with M.Du. smolen, Low Ger. smelen, Flem. smoel "hot," from P.Gmc. *smel-, *smul-. The meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is first recorded 1529, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c.

smooch --- 1932 (v.); 1942 (n.), alteration of dialectal verb smouch (1578), possibly imitative of the sound of kissing (cf. Ger. dial. schmutzen "to kiss").

smooth --- O.E. smoð "free from roughness, not harsh," of unknown origin. Sense of "pleasant, polite, sincere" first recorded c.1390. Slang meaning "superior, classy, clever" is attested from 1893. The verb is first recorded c.1440. Smooth-bore in ref. to guns is from 1812. smooth talk (v.) is recorded from 1950. A 1599 dictionary has smoothboots "a flatterer, a faire spoken man, a cunning tongued fellow." The usual O.E. form was smeðe, and there is a dial. smeeth found in places names, e.g. Smithfield, Smedley.

smorgasbord --- 1893, from Swed. smörgåsbord "open sandwich table," lit. "butter-goose table," from smörgås, which is said to mean "bread and butter," but is compounded from smör "butter" (related to smear) and gås, lit. "goose" (and from the root of Eng. goose), which is said to have a secondary meaning of "a clump(of butter)." The final element is bord "table" (cf. board (n.1)). Fig. sense of "medley, miscellany" is recorded from 1948.

smother --- c.1200, "to suffocate with smoke," from smorthre (n.) "dense, suffocating smoke" (c.1175), from stem of O.E. smorian "to suffocate, choke," possibly connected to smolder. Meaning "to kill by suffocation" is from 1548; sense of "to extinguish a fire" is from 1591. Sense of "stifle, repress" is first recorded 1579; meaning "to cover thickly (with some substance)" is from 1598.

smoulder --- see smolder.

smudge --- c.1430, smogen "to soil, stain, blacken," of obscure origin. The noun is first attested 1768, from the verb.

smug --- 1551, "trim, neat, spruce, smart," possibly an alteration of Low Ger. smuk "trim, neat," from M.L.G. smücken "to adorn," and smiegen "to press close" (see smock). The meaning "having a self-satisfied air" is from 1701, an extension of the sense of "smooth, sleek" (1582), which was commonly used of attractive women and girls.

smuggler --- 1661, from Low Ger. smuggeln or Du. smokkelen "to transport (goods) illegally," apparently a frequentative formation of a word meaning "to sneak" (from P.Gmc. *smuganan) and related to smock (q.v.).

smut (n.) --- 1664, "black mark, stain," from verb smutten "debase, defile" (early 15c.), cognate with M.H.G. smotzen "make dirty," from W.Gmc. *smutt- (cf. M.H.G. smuz "grease, dirt," Ger. Schmutz "dirt," Ger. schmutzen "to make dirty"). The meaning "indecent or obscene language" is first attested 1668 (implied in smutty).

smutch (v.) --- 1611, variant of smudge (q.v.).

snack --- c.1300, "to bite or snap" (of a dog), probably from M.Du. snacken "to snatch, chatter" (see snatch). The meaning "have a mere bite or morsel, eat a light meal" is first attested 1807; the noun in this sense is from 1757. Snack bar is attested from 1930.

snaffle --- simple bridle-bit, 1533, perhaps from Du. snavel "beak, bill;" cf. Ger. Schnabel "beak, face," O.E. nebb, O.N. neff "beak, nose," from PIE base *snab- "beak" (see neb).

snafu --- 1941, U.S. military slang, acronym for situation normal, all fucked up, "conveying the common soldier's laconic acceptance of the disorder of war and the ineptitude of his superiors." ["Oxford English Dictionary," which seldom fails to delight]

snag --- 1577, "stump of a tree, branch," of Scand. origin, cf. O.N. snagi "clothes peg," snaga "a kind of ax." The meaning "sharp or jagged projection" is first recorded 1586; that of "obstacle, impediment" is 1829. The verb meaning "to be caught on an impediment" is attested from 1807, from the noun. Originally Amer.Eng., often of steamboats caught on branches and stumps lodged in riverbeds. The meaning "to catch, steal, pick up" is Amer.Eng. colloquial, attested from 1895. Snaggle-toothed "having crooked, projecting teeth" (1585) is from the same root.

snail --- O.E. snægl, from P.Gmc. *snagilas (cf. O.S. snegil, O.N. snigill, M.H.G. snegel, dial. Ger. Schnegel, O.H.G. snecko, Ger. Schnecke "snail"), from base *snag-, *sneg- "to crawl" (see snake). The word essentially is a dim. form of O.E. snaca "snake," lit. "creeping thing." Also formerly used of slugs. Symbolic of slowness since at least c.1000; snail's pace is attested from c.1400.

snake (n.) --- O.E. snaca, from P.Gmc. *snakon (cf. O.N. snakr "snake," Swed. snok, Ger. Schnake "ring snake"), from PIE base *snag-, *sneg- "to crawl, creeping thing" (cf. O.Ir. snaighim "to creep," Lith. snake "snail," O.H.G. snahhan "to creep"). In Mod.Eng., gradually replacing serpent in popular use. Meaning "treacherous person" first recorded 1590 (cf. O.C.S. gadu "reptile," gadinu "foul, hateful"). Snake eyes in crap-shooting sense is from 1929. Snake oil is from 1927. Snake-bitten "unlucky" is sports slang from 1957. The game of Snakes and Ladders is attested from 1907. Snake pit is from 1883, as a supposed primitive test of truth or courage; fig. sense is from 1941. Phrase snake in the grass is from Virgil's Latet anguis in herba [Ecl. III.93] Another O.E. word for "snake" was næddre (see adder).

snake (v.) --- 1653, "to twist or wind (something) into the form of a snake," from snake (n.). The intrans. sense of "to move like a snake" is attested from 1848; that of "to wind or twist like a snake" (of roads, etc.) is from 1875.

snap (n.) --- 1495, "quick, sudden bite or cut," from Du. or Low Ger. snappen "to snap," probably related to M.L.G. or M.Du. snavel "bill, beak" (see nib). Sense of "quick movement" is first recorded 1631; that of "something easily done" is 1877. Common in compounds to indicate instantaneous action (cf. cold snap, 1829). The card game is attested from 1882. Phrase snap out of it first recorded 1928. Snap judgment is attested from 1841. Snappy "quick, energetic" is from 1831.

snap (v.) --- 1530, "to make a quick bite" (of animals), from snap (n.). Meaning "to break suddenly or sharply" is first recorded 1602; the mental sense is from 1970s. U.S. football sense first recorded 1887. Snapping turtle is attested from 1784. To snap the fingers is from 1671. Snappish "peevish" is first recorded 1542.

snapdragon --- 1573, from fancied resemblance of antirrhinum flowers to a dragon's mouth.

snape (v.) --- to be hard upon, rebuke, snub, c.1300, from O.N. sneypa "to outrage, dishonor, disgrace."

snapper --- applied to various fishes since 1697, from snap (v.); as a short form of snapping turtle it is recorded from 1872. Snappers "teeth" is attested from 1924.

snap-shot --- 1808, "a quick shot with a gun, without aim, at a fast-moving target;" photographic sense is attested from 1890.

snare (1) --- noose for catching animals, c.1100, from O.N. snara "noose, snare," related to soenri "twisted rope," from P.Gmc. *snarkho (cf. M.Du. snare, Du. snaar, O.H.G. snare, Ger. Schnur "noose, cord"). The verb is attested from 1388.

snare (2) --- string across a drum, 1688, probably from Du. snaar "string," from same source as snare (1).

snark (n.) --- imaginary animal, coined 1876 by Lewis Carroll in "The Hunting of the Snark."

snarky (adj.) --- irritable, short-tempered, 1906, from snark (v.) "to snort" (1866), from an imitative source akin to Low Ger. snarken, N.Fris. snarke, Swed. snarka.

snarl (v.1) --- to tangle, to catch in a snare or noose, 1398, from a noun snarl "a snare, a noose" (c.1380), probably a dim. of snare (1). The noun meaning "a tangle, a knot" is first attested 1609.

snarl (v.2) --- growl and bare the teeth, 1530, perhaps from Du. or Low Ger. snarren "to rattle," probably of imitative origin (cf. Ger. schnarren "to rattle," schnurren "to hum, buzz"). Meaning "speak in a harsh manner" first recorded 1693.

snatch (v.) --- c.1225, perhaps from M.Du. snacken "to snatch, chatter." The noun is attested from c.1300; vulgar slang sense of "vulva" is recorded from 1903; from a much older sense of "sexual intercourse quickly performed" (c.1589). Weight-lifting sense is attested from 1928.

snazzy --- stylish, flashy, 1932, U.S. colloquial, perhaps a blend of snappy and jazzy.

SNCF --- French national railway, 1949, acronym for Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer.

sneak (v.) --- 1560 (implied in sneakish), perhaps from some dial. survival of M.E. sniken "to creep, crawl," related to O.E. snican "to desire, reach for sneakily," from P.Gmc. *sneikanan, which is related to the root of snake (q.v.). The noun meaning "a sneaking person" is first recorded 1643. Sneak-thief first recorded 1859; sneak-preview is from 1938. Sneaky Pete "cheap liquor" is from 1949.

sneaker --- 1598, "one who sneaks," from sneak (v.). Meaning "rubber-soled shoe" is attested from 1895, Amer.Eng.; earlier sneak (1862), so called because the shoe was noiseless. See also plimsoll.

sneer (v.) --- 1553, "to snort" (of horses), perhaps from N.Fris. sneere "to scorn," related to O.E. fnæran "to snort, gnash one's teeth," of imitative origin (cf. Dan. snærre "to grin like a dog," M.Du., M.H.G. snarren "to rattle"). Meaning "to smile contemptuously" is from 1680; sense of "to curl the upper lip in scorn" is attested from 1775. The noun is attested from 1707.

sneeze --- O.E. fneosan "to snort, sneeze," from P.Gmc. *fneusanan (cf. M.Du. fniesen, Du. fniezen "to sneeze;" O.N. fnysa "to snort;" O.N. hnjosa, Swed. nysa "to sneeze;" O.H.G. niosan, Ger. niesen "to sneeze"), from P.Gmc. base *fneu-s- "sneeze," of imitative origin, as is PIE *pneu- "to breathe" (cf. Gk. pnein "to breathe"). Other imitative words for it, perhaps in various ways related to each other, include L. sternure (cf. It. starnutare, Fr. éternuer, Sp. estornudar), Bret. strevia, Skt. ksu-, Lith. ciaudeti, Pol. kichac, Rus. cichat'. Eng. forms in sn- appear 1490s; change may be due to a misreading of fn-, or from O.N. influence. But OED suggests M.E. fnese had been reduced to simple nese by early 15c., and sneeze is a "strengthened form" of this, "assisted by its phonetic appropriateness." The noun is first recorded 1646, from the verb. To sneeze at "to regard as of little value" (usually with negative) is attested from 1806.

snick --- 1962, Amer.Eng., from common pronunciation of SNCC, acronym for "Student Non-violent Co-ordinating Committee," black civil rights organization.

snicker --- 1694, possibly of imitative origin, similar to Du. snikken "to gasp, sob." The noun is first recorded 1836, from the verb.

snickersnee --- 1698, originally "fight with knives," from snick-or-snee (1613), from Du. steken "to thrust, stick" + snijden "to cut" (cf. Ger. schneiden).