Sniggle
/ˈsnɪɡ.əl/noun
To fish with a hook concealed in bait, especially for eels; by extension, to catch or fish in a sneaky way.
Did you know?Sniggle is a real old fishing term, and its history is tied to covert, bait-and-hook trapping rather than open angling, which is why it feels so sly and secretive.
Etymological Timeline
Old English / Middle English
English
sniglen
“to fish for eels or other fish with a concealed hook or bait”
Middle English
English
sniggle
“to catch fish by a sly or indirect method”
Early Modern English
English
sniggle
“to fish with a snare, hook, or baited device, often for eels”
Modern English
English
sniggle
“to fish in a sly or stealthy way; also used figuratively for covert, sneaky catching”