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snuff³

(snŭf)

a. A preparation of finely pulverized tobacco that can be drawn up into the nostrils by inhaling. Also called smokeless tobacco.

b. The quantity of this tobacco that is inhaled at a single time; a pinch.

2. See dip.

3. A powdery substance, such as a medicine, taken by inhaling.

intr.v. snuffed, snuff·ing, snuffs

To use or inhale snuff.

Idiom:

up to snuff Informal

1. Normal in health.

2. Up to standard; adequate.

[Dutch snuf, short for snuftabak : Dutch snuffen, to sniff; see SNUFFLE + tabak, tobacco.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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