snifter

[ snif-ter ]

noun

1. Also called inhaler. a pear-shaped glass, narrowing at the top to intensify the aroma of brandy, liqueur, etc.
2. Informal. a very small drink of liquor.

snifter

/ ˈsnɪftə /

noun

1. a pear-shaped glass with a short stem and a bowl that narrows towards the top so that the aroma of brandy or a liqueur is retained
2. informal.
   a small quantity of alcoholic drink

Word History and Origins

Origin of snifter¹

1840–50; derivative of snifter to sniff, snivel, Middle English snyfter; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of snifter¹

C19: perhaps from dialect snifter to sniff, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; compare Danish snifta (obsolete) to sniff

Example Sentences

Strain into a chilled snifter glass, rimmed with smoked-chipotle dust.

From The Daily Beast

But picking up the sail in other blows and picking it up in a Cape Horn snifter is a horse of another color.

From Project Gutenberg

The first of the telegrams arrived shortly after noon, and Jeeves brought it in with the before-luncheon snifter.

From Project Gutenberg

At sunset he quit, easy winner, and went without taking so much as a "snifter."

From Project Gutenberg

For the love of goodness, Fritz, give me a snifter of tanglefoot!

From Project Gutenberg

But he was just a snifter short on that potent and undisciplined drink.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bottle
• cup
• jar
• jug