snip-snap

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word snip-snap. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word snip-snap, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say snip-snap in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word snip-snap you have here. The definition of the word snip-snap will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofsnip-snap, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

Reduplication of snap.

Verb

snip-snap (third-person singular simple present snip-snaps, present participle snip-snapping, simple past and past participle snip-snapped)

  1. To shut, close, bite, etc., with a brisk snap.
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 40:
      He had picked a small section of scrub behind his shanty which the lagoon below cut into paintable patterns, and with easel snip-snapped up and palette set, was going through the essential preliminary of peering at it[.]
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC, page 140:
      No doubt of it, Edmund was at grips with that bumptious little hairy dog. They were going it at the very top note of sadistic fury, screaming and snip-snapping in such a lightning mixture of black and white murder that the eye could not follow it.

Noun

snip-snap (plural snip-snaps)

  1. A sharp snapping sound.
  2. (idiomatic) A tart dialogue with quick replies.
    • 1728, [Alexander Pope], “(please specify the page)”, in The Dunciad. An Heroic Poem. , Dublin, London: A. Dodd, →OCLC:
      snip-snap short, and interruption smart
    • 1933, American Medicine, volume 39, page 73:
      The daily snip-snaps and hubbubs between the cross-purposed couple accentuated that tendency in her. After each altercation Mrs. Coley was seized with an hysterical attack, and my services were needed.