English edit

Etymology edit

Uncertain.

Pronunciation edit

  • (UK) IPA(key): /snɪb/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɪb

Noun edit

snib (plural snibs)

  1. (Scotland, Australia) A latch or fastening for a door, window etc.
    • 2008, James Kelman, Kieron Smith, Boy, Penguin, published 2009, page 99:
      He did not like me coming in except if I was going to bed. I heard him saying to my maw about a snib for the door.
  2. (obsolete) A reprimand; a snub.

Verb edit

snib (third-person singular simple present snibs, present participle snibbing, simple past and past participle snibbed)

  1. (Scotland, Australia) To latch (a door, window etc.).
    • 1890, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, chapter 6, in The Sign of the Four, London: Spencer Blackett:
      ‘Window is snibbed on the inner side. Frame-work is solid. No hinges at the side. Let us open it.’
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 162:
      All moved to the front street, where Grierson snibbed on his tail-light and turned to ask the trooper, "They've got the main road ploughed up farther on, haven't they?"

Anagrams edit