Snifter
/ˈsnɪf.tər/noun
A small quantity of liquor or a short-stemmed glass designed for drinking spirits.
Did you know?The word comes from the same expressive Germanic sound-family as “sniff” and “snuffle,” linking refined spirits culture to the instinctive act of smelling.
Etymological Timeline
Early Germanic
Germanic
*snif-/snuf-
“An expressive sound-root associated with sniffing, smelling, or drawing air through the nose; the reconstructed form is approximate.”
Late Middle English
English
sniften
“To sniff or draw in air audibly through the nose.”
15th–16th Century
English
snift
“To sniff; a variant of the expressive Germanic verb family.”
1820s
English
snifter
“A small drink of spirits, formed with the agentive suffix “-er” from “snift.””
Late 19th Century
English
snifter
“A small, rounded drinking glass used especially for brandy and other spirits.”
Modern English
English
snifter
“Either a small measure of liquor or the characteristic glass used to serve it.”