Etymologically
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snap

Etymology and origin of the English word snap

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing, Onomatopoeia
First attested
1495
Borrowed from
Dutch snappen

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /snæp/[1]

Etymology

It is probably borrowed from Dutch snappen (“to snap, seize”) or Low German snappen,[2][3][4][5] partly imitative;[4][3] it is cognate with German schnappen and Old Norse snapa, and probably related to Middle Dutch snavel, beak (see neb).[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

A quick bite or cut: 1495.[2][6][3]

Semantic evolution

The verb, of animals biting quickly, is from the 1520s;[3] to break suddenly is from about 1600,[3][4] and snap at, to speak sharply, from the 1570s.[3] A quick movement is from 1631, a sudden spell of cold weather from 1740, and a catch that closes with a snap from 1815.[2][3] The card game is from 1881,[3] a snapshot photograph from 1890–94,[3] and something easily done, a snap, from 1877.[3] As an adjective, instantaneous, as a snap judgment, it is from 1790.[3] Snap out of it is by 1907, and to lose one's self-control from the 1970s.[3]

Timeline

  • 1495 – a quick bite.[2]
  • 1520s – to bite quickly.[3]
  • c. 1600 – to break suddenly.[3]
  • 1740 – a cold snap.[3]
  • 1881 – the card game.[3]
  • 1890 – to take a photograph.[3]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To break suddenly with a sharp cracking sound.
  2. To make a sudden bite.
  3. To speak sharply or irritably.
  4. To lose one's self-control suddenly.
  5. To take a photograph.

Noun

  1. A sudden sharp sound or movement.
  2. A short period of a particular weather: a cold snap.
  3. A snapshot photograph.
  4. A card game in which players call snap on seeing matching cards.

Adjective

  1. Done quickly without thought: a snap decision.

Word family

  • snapless
  • snappable
  • snappingly
  • snappish
  • snappy
  • snap-in
  • gingersnap
  • snap-brim
  • snack
  • snatch
  • snapshot
  • snapdragon

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c Hoad, T. F., ed. (1986), The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Snap.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/snap. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·