snaking (snaking)

[Verbal n. of snake, v.] 1. The act or proce of hauling a log, or of pa ing a line in a zigzag manner or spirally between two larger ropes.-2. A snake-like curl or spiral. The fleecy fog of spray, sometimes tumbling in thunder upon her forward decks, sometimes curling in blown snakings ahead of her. W. C. Ru ell, Death Ship, xli. snakish (snā'kish), a. Snaky. Levins . snaky (snā'ki), a . [ snake + -y1.] 1. Of or pertaining to snakes; resembling a snake; ser- pent i form; snakish; hence, cunning; insinuat- ing; deceitful; treacherous. So to the coast of Jordan he directs His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles. Milton , P. R., i. 120. The long, snaky locks. L. Wallace , Ben-Hur, vi. 4. 2. Winding about; serpentine: as, a snaky stream. Watch their snaky ways, Through brakes and hedges, into woods of darkne , Where they are fain to creep upon their breasts. B. Jonson, Cat i line, iii. 2. 3. Abounding in snakes: as, a snaky place. [U. S.]-4. Consisting of snakes; entwined with snakes, as an emblem. IMG:content-1391.png:[blocks in formation] snap (snap), v.; pret. and pp. snapped, ppr. snapping. [Early mod. E. snappe; We are taken in a toil, snapt in a pitfall. Fletcher, Pilgrim, iii. 4. IMG:content-1392.png:[blocks in formation] 4. To shut with a sharp sound; operate (something which produces a sharp snapping sound when it acts); cause to make a sharp sound by shutting, opening, exploding, etc.: as, to snap a percu ion-cap; to snap the lid of a box. We snapped a pistol four feet from the ground, and it would not go off, but fired when it was held higher. Pococke , Description of the East, II. ii. 225. Up rose the bowsy sire, And shook from out his pipe the seeds of fire; Then snapp'd his box. Pope , Dunciad, iv. 495. 5. To break sharply, as some tough or brittle object; break short; break with a sharp cracking sound: as, to snap a string or a buckle. Dauntle as Death away he walks, Breaks the doors open; snaps the locks. Prior, An English Padlock.