snack English · revision 14971

+ {{infobox|confidence=probable|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1300}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /snæk/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|snaken|t=to bite, snap]], probably [[bor|dum|snacken|t=to snap at, bite, chatter]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)^(Cresswell 2021) a variant of [[m|dum|snappen]] (see [[snap]]), perhaps imitative.^(Hoad 1986)^(Cresswell 2021) Etymonline also allows a northern variant of [[snatch]] influenced by Scandinavian words.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of a dog, to bite or snap: about 1300.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The noun, a bite or snap, is from 1402,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and a snappish remark from 1555.^(OED 1989) A share or portion is from the 1680s, as in ''to go snacks'', to share profits.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) A small amount of liquor is from 1685,^(OED 1989) and a mere bite of food, a light meal, from 1726 or 1757.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) The verb, to eat a light meal, is first recorded in 1807, in a travel book.^(Barnhart 1988) ''Snack bar'' is from 1923, and the trade spelling snax from 1942.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1300 – to snap (of a dog).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1402 – a snap, bite (noun).^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1680s – a share.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1726 – a light meal.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1807 – to snack (verb).^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1923 – snack bar.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A light, quick meal, eaten between or instead of main meals.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Food eaten between meals.^(AHD)

+ # ''(rare)'' A share.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To eat a light meal or food between meals.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[snacker]]

+ * [[snack bar]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[snap]]

+ * [[snatch]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}