snuffle

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the act of breathing heavily through the nose (as when the nose is congested)
  2. verb sniff or smell inquiringly
  3. verb snuff up mucus through the nose

Etymology

Probably from Low German and Dutch snuffelen (“to snuffle”), equivalent to snuff + -le. Compare also Old English snofl (“snot, nasal mucus”), which might not have survived into Middle English.

In classic literature

Synonyms

sniffle, snivel

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