Etymology

snaffle

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Today it means: A broad-mouthed, loose-ringed bit (metal in a horse's mouth). It brings pressure to bear on the tongue and the corners of the mouth, and is often used as a training bit. Full definition →

Dutch snavel ← Middle Dutch snavel
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The story

  1. Middle Dutch · derived fromsnabbe
  2. Middle Dutch · derived fromsnavel
  3. Dutch · derived fromsnavel
  4. English todaysnaffle

Apparently from Dutch snavel, from Middle Dutch snavel, snabel (“snout”), diminutive of Middle Dutch snabbe, snebbe (“bird's bill, neb”). Akin to Old Frisian snavel (“mouth”), Middle Low German snabbe (“neb, beak”), Old English nebb (“beak, bill, nose, face”). More at neb.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.