snuff

I. noun Etymology: Middle English snoffe Date: 14th century 1. the charred part of a candlewick 2. a. obsolete umbrage, offense b. chiefly Scottish huff II. transitive verb Date: 15th century 1. to crop the snuff of (a candle) by pinching or by the use of snuffers so as to brighten the light 2. a. to extinguish by or as if by the use of a candlesnuffer — often used with out b. to make extinct ; put an end to — usually used with out <

snuffed out their hopes

>; also kill, execute <

snuffed the bad guys

> III. adjective Date: 1975 characterized by the sensationalistic depiction of violence; especially featuring a real rather than a staged murder <

snuff movies

> IV. verb Etymology: akin to Dutch snuffen to sniff, snuff — more at snivel Date: 1527 transitive verb 1. to draw forcibly through or into the nostrils 2. scent, smell 3. to sniff at in order to examine — used of an animal intransitive verb 1. to inhale through the nose noisily and forcibly; also to sniff or smell inquiringly 2. obsolete to sniff loudly in or as if in disgust 3. to take snuff V. noun Date: 1568 the act of snuffing ; sniff VI. noun Etymology: Dutch snuf, short for snuftabak, from snuffen to snuff + tabak tobacco Date: 1650 1. a preparation of pulverized tobacco to be inhaled through the nostrils, chewed, or placed against the gums 2. the amount of snuff taken at one time