Origin uncertain. Either from Middle English snurten (“to sneer; snort, snore”), a variation of snorten (“to snort”); or from Middle English *snyrten, an alteration of fnyrten, fnerten, from Old English fnǣrettan. Compare also Norwegian snurt (“vexed, peevish”), Middle English snirt (“stern, gloomy”).
Meanings
(Scotland) A suppressed laugh; a sharp intake of breath.
Origin uncertain. Either from Middle English snurten (“to sneer; snort, snore”), a variation of snorten (“to snort”); or from Middle English *snyrten, an alteration of fnyrten, fnerten, from Old English fnǣrettan. Compare also Norwegian snurt (“vexed, peevish”), Middle English snirt (“stern, gloomy”).
Meanings
(Scotland) To give a suppressed laugh or sharp intake of breath.
The Whaup grew very red in the face, and ‘snirted’ with laughter." 1871, William Black, A daughter of Heth: A novel, page 160:
"But ye see there was a great deal of blushing and snirting, and bits of made coughs, as if to keep down a thorough guffau." 1837, James Hogg, “Katie Cheyne”, in Tales and Sketches, page 172:
"He grins, and snirts, and thraws ye ken — 1833, Anonymous, writing in The Dublin University Magazine: A Literary and Political Journal, page 575, "Willie and Pate"
(Canada, US, uncountable) Snow that is dirty, often seen by the side of roads and parking lots that have been plowed.
[…] it wasn't a hard winter. Only a couple of blizzards and snirt and snuss storms. 2004, Dean Norman, Studio Cards: Funny Greeting Cards and People Who Created Them, Trafford Publishing,, →ISBN, page 131:
We then have what we call ‘snirt’ storms. 1975, United States House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Related Agencies, Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1976, page 175:
Snirt or a mixture of snow and dirt is the term popularly applied to the windrows of dirt along the roads during a Minnesota winter. 1985, United States House Committee on Agriculture, General Farm Bill of 1985: Hearings Before the Committee on Agriculture, page 924:
‘Snirt’ is a thing of the spring. 1997, William S. Burroughs, Last Words, Grove Press, →ISBN, page 73: