English
Etymology 1
A portmanteau of �snow� and �dirt�
Noun
en-noun|-
- US Snow that is dirty, often seen by the side of roads and parking lots that have been plowed.
#*1975, United States House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and Related Agencies, Agriculture and Related Agencies Appropriations for 1976, page 175 1:
#:"We then have what we call 'snirt' storms."
#*1985, United States House Committee on Agriculture, General Farm Bill of 1985: Hearings Before the Committee on Agriculture, page 924 2:
#:"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."
#*1997, William S. Burroughs, Last Words, Grove Press, page 73, ISBN 0802137784:
#: "'Snirt' is a thing of the spring."
#*2004, Dean Norman, Studio Cards: Funny Greeting Cards and People Who Created Them, Trafford Publishing, ISBN 1412017009, page 131:
#: "... it wasn't a hard winter. Only a couple of blizzards and snirt and snuss storms."
Etymology 2
Verb
en-verb
- Scottish A suppressed laugh; a sharp intake of breath.
#*1833, Anonymous, writing in The Dublin University Magazine: A Literary and Political Journal, page 575, "Willie and Pate" :
#:"He grins, and snirts, and thraws ye ken -- / I maist could die, wi' laughin."
#*1837, James Hogg, "Katie Cheyne" in Tales and Sketches, page 172:
#:"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."
#*1871, William Black, A daughter of Heth: A novel, page 160:
#:The Whaup grew very red in the face, and 'snirted' with laughter."
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