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

Two matchboxes over, Beatrice snuffled in her sleep.

From Literature

There’s a snuffle from the bed, and I can tell he is crying.

From Literature

Next to arrive is her disembodied trunk, with a mind of its own, snuffling out friends and enemies and food.

From New York Times

A snuffling pig called Muriel has so far been Rose’s sole success.

From New York Times

Later, back in the lab, Dr. Bowman and his colleagues would discover that several of the snouts snuffling around this busy barn in New Lexington, Ohio, were harboring influenza.

From New York Times

Related Words

• bark
• growl
• grunt
• mumble
• mutter