Meaning "a photographic snap-shot" is from 1894. The card game name is attested from 1881, from a call used in the game. The meaning "catch or fastener (of a purse, etc.) that closes with a snapping sound" is from 1815. The meaning "brief or sudden spell" of weather (usually cold) is from 1740.
The meaning "crispness, pithiness" is from 1865, American English (Scottish English had it by 1790 in an adjectival sense of "sharp, smart"). The sense of "quick movement" is recorded by 1630s that of "something easily done" is 1877. 1550s, perhaps late 15c., "a quick, sudden bite or cut an eager seizing," from snap (v.), or, if the earlier date, a noun from Dutch or Low German snappen "to snap," which are probably related to Middle Low German or Middle Dutch snavel "bill, beak," which Watkins traced to a hypothetical Germanic root *snu- forming words having to do with the nose, imitative of a sudden drawing of breath (see snout).
0 kommentar(er)
