Definition of SNIVEL

snivel

Meanings

Plural: snivels

Noun

  • whining in a tearful manner
  • the act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested)
  • The act of snivelling.
  • Nasal mucus; snot.

Verb

  • talk in a tearful manner
  • snuff up mucus through the nose
  • cry or whine with snuffling
    • "Stop snivelling--you got yourself into this mess!"
  • To breathe heavily through the nose while it is congested with nasal mucus.
  • To cry while sniffling; to whine or complain while crying.
  • To say (something) while sniffling or crying.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English snivelen, snevelen, snyvelen, snuvelen, from Old English *snyflan (attested in the verbal noun snyflung (“mucus”)), from Proto-West Germanic *snuflijan, related to Old English snofl (“mucus”), ultimately from the root of snout. Akin to sniff, snuff. Compare sniffle.
Cognate with Middle Low German snuffelen, snüffelen (“to sniff, smell”), Danish snøvle (“to sniffle, snivel”), Norwegian Nynorsk snuvla (“to sniffle, snivel”), Swedish snövla (“to sniffle, snivel”).
Compare typologically Russian сопе́ть (sopétʹ), сопля́ (sopljá) akinnes.

Scrabble Score: 9

snivel is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
snivel is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
snivel is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

snivel is a valid Words With Friends word