Snus

[Alan H. Hartley]

Anthony Grant wrote:
> Anything to do with German Schnupftabak 'snuff', or British English
> prison  slang 'snout' (tobacco, latterly also certain drugs)?

For "snoose", the OED says, from Da., Norw., and Sw. snus 'snuff,' 
shortening of Da., Sw. snustobak, Norw. snustobakk 'snuff tobacco' (cf. 
G. schnupftabak). (There's also the obsolete English "snush", which was 
common ca. 1680-1700.)

And for "snuff", OED says, prob. from Du. and Flem. snuf or snuif 
(WFris. snuf) in the same sense, apparently an abbreviation of snuiftabak.

OED has no comment on any relation between the SNUS type and the SNUF.

It says "snout" (tobacco) is of obscure origin.

Alan

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