snape

snape · verb¹

Origin obscure. Perhaps from snape, a dialectal variant of sneap (“to nip, bite, pinch”). More at sneap.

snape · verb²

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*snupaną
2. Old Norse · derived fromsneypa“to disgrace, dishonour; to outrage”
3. Middle English · inherited fromsnaipen“to injure; of sleet or snow: to nip; to criticize, rebuke, revile”
4. English todaysnape

From Middle English snaipen (“to injure; of sleet or snow: to nip; to criticize, rebuke, revile”) [and other forms], from Old Norse sneypa (“to disgrace, dishonour; to outrage”), from Proto-Germanic *snupaną, *snubaną (“to cut; to snap”); further origin unknown. Doublet of sneap.

Snape · proper noun³

First attested in the late 18th century. Derived from various villages in England and southern Scotland sharing this name.

Words from the same roots