Chapter SMITH to Snitchey and Craggs of S by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Snail, the collector of customs, near Ellangowan House.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Snailsfoot (Bryce), the jagger or pedlar.—Sir W. Scott: The Pirate (time, William III.).

Snake (Mr.), a traitorous ally of lady Sneerwell, who has the effrontery to say to her, “You paid me extremely liberally for propagating the lie, but unfortunately I have been offered double to speak the truth.” He says—

Ah, sir, consider, I live by the baseness of my character; and if it were once known that I have been betrayed into an honest action, I shall lose every friend I have in the world.—Sheridan: School for Scandal, v. 3 (1777).

Snap, the representation of a dragon which for many years was carried about the city of Norwich on Guild day in grand procession with flags and banners, bands of music, and whifflers with swords to clear the way, all in fancy costume. Snap was of great length, a man was in the middle of the beast to carry it, and caused its head to turn and jaws to open an amazing width, that half-pence might be tossed into it and caught in a bag. The procession was stopped in the year 1824, when Snap was laid up in St. Andrew’s Hall. It has since been removed to the Castle Museum.

At Metz a similar procession used to take place annually on St. Mark’s Day, the French Snap being called “St. Clement’s dragon.”

Snare (I syl.), sheriff’s officer.— Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. (1598).

Snark (Hunting the), a tale by Lewis Carrol (real name Rev. Charles Dodgson) (1876).

Snawley, “in the oil and colour line.” A “sleek, flat-nosed man, bearing in his countenance an expression of mortification and sanctity.”—Dickens: Nicholas Nickleby, iii. (1838).

Sneak (Jerry), a hen-pecked pinmaker; a paltry, pitiful, prying sneak. If ever he summoned up a little manliness, his wife would begin to cry, and Jerry was instantly softened.

Master Sneak,…the ancient corporation of Garratt, in consideration of your great parts and abilities, and out of respect to their landlord sir Jacob, have unanimously chosen you mayor.—Act ii.

Jerry Sneak has become the type of hen-pecked husbands.—Temple Bar, 456 (1875).

Mrs. Sneak, wife of Jerry, a domineering tartar of a woman, who keeps her lord and master well under her thumb. She is the daughter of sir Jacob Jollup.—Foote: The Mayor of Garratt (1763).

Jerry Sneak Russell. So Samuel Russell the actor was called, because of his inimitable representation of “Jerry Sneak,” which was quite a hit (1766–1845).

Sneer, a double-faced critic, who carps at authors behind their backs, but fawns on them when they are present (see act i. I).—Sheridan: The Critic (1779).

Sneerwell (Lady), the widow of a City knight. Mr. Snake says, “Every one allows that lady Sneerwell can do more with a word or a look than many can with the most laboured detail, even when they happen to have a little truth on their side to support it.”

Wounded myself, in the early part of my life, by the envenomed tongue of slander, I confess I have since known no pleasure equal to the reducing of others to the level of my own reputation.—Sheridan: School for Scandal, i. I (1777).