Snuff | Webster's Dictionary (1865)

Snūff, n.

noun

n. [Ger. schnuppe, from schnuppen, for schnupfen.]

Sense 1. The part of a candle-wick charred by the flame, whether burning or not.

If the burning snuff happens to get out of the snuffers, you have a chance that it may fall into a dish of soup. Swift.

Sense 2. A candle almost burnt out. [Obs.] Shak.

Sense 3. A sniff; the perception by snuffing. [Obs.]

Sense 4. [D. snuff, Ger. schnupftaback, Dan. & Sw. snus.] Pulverized tobacco or other substance, taken, or prepared to be taken, into the nose.

Sense 5. Resentment, displeasure, or contempt, expressed by a snuffing of the nose. [Obs.] Bacon.

To take in snuff, to be angry or offended. Shak.—Up to snuff, not likely to be imposed upon; knowing; acute; alert. [Colloq.]

Snūff, v. t.

verbtransitive

[imp. & p. p. SNUFFED (snŭft); p. pr. & vb. n. SNUFFING.] [D. snuffen, snuiven, Ger. schnupfen, schnuppen, to snuff, schnuppen, also to snuff a candle.]

To draw in with the breath; to inhale. “Snuff the wind.” Dryden.
To perceive by the nose; to scent; to smell.
To crop the snuff of, as a candle; to take off the end of the snuff of. [Obs.]

Snŭff, v. i.

verbintransitive

v. i. [Ger. schnupfen, schnaufen, schnauben, D. snuffen, snuiven, L. Ger. snuven, Sw. snufva.]

To inhale air with violence or with noise; to snort, as dogs and horses.
To turn up the nose and inhale air, as an expression of contempt; hence, to take offense.

Do the enemies of the church rage and snuff? Bp. Hall.