English

Proper noun

Snape

1. A surname​.

Anagrams

• aspen, Aspen
• napes
• neaps
• panes
• peans
• sneap

English

Verb

snape ‎(third-person singular simple present snapes, present participle snaping, simple past and past participle snaped)

1. (shipbuilding) To bevel the end of a timber to fit against an inclined surface.
   • 2000, William L. Crothers, The American-built Clipper Ship, 1850-1856, International Marine, page 265

     It had to be accurately cut and trimmed, and its upper edge scored to suit the snaping of every beam end.

Etymology 2

Variation of sneap.

Verb

snape ‎(third-person singular simple present snapes, present participle snaping, simple past and past participle snaped)

1. Alternative form of sneap
   • 1871, John Esten Cooke, Out of the Foam

     He saw nothing, heard nothing, rushed on, he knew not whither, snaping, and uttering hoarse cries.

   • 1861, Terry A. Johnston, Him on One Side and Me on the Other, Univ. of South Carolina Press, p48, 1999 (quoting Alexander Campbell)

     The colnel (sic) I dont think like him much. I undirstand (sic) he was always snaping him.

   • 2001, Joan Raphael-Leff, Pregnancy: The Inside Story, Karnac Books, page 22

     I imagine her prodding my flab and snaping, "There's nothing there — get rid of that!"

Anagrams

• aspen, Aspen
• napes
• neaps
• panes
• peans
• sneap

Middle English

Alternative forms

• snaip, snaipen

Etymology

From Old Norse sneypa ‎(“to outrage, dishonor, disgrace”)

Verb

snape (third-person singular simple present snapeth, present participle snapende, simple past and past participle snaped)

1. To injure; of snow or sleet: nip, afflict

   • Þe snawe snitered ful snart, þat snayped þe wylde. — Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, c1400
   • Ilke a barne in þe burgh all blaught is hys wedes Als any snappand snaw. — Wars of Alexander, 1500

2. To rebuke; revile, criticize

   • Vte of desert þar he was in, He com to snaip þe king sinn. — Cursor Mundi, 1400
   • To Snape: corripere — Catholicon Anglicum, 1483

Related terms

• snapli ‎(“sharply, bitingly; reproachfully”)

References

Middle English Dictionary, snaipen, snaip, snape