Snivel
/ˈsnɪv.əl/noun
To cry or breathe noisily with a runny nose, especially in a weak or whining way.
Did you know?Snivel is an old English word of expressive origin, and its history shows how language can turn a bodily sound into a judgment of character: to snivel was not just to sniffle, but to sound pitiful enough to be mocked.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
snifflian / snoflian
“To sniffle, snuffle, or breathe noisily through the nose”
Middle English
ME
snivel(en)
“To run at the nose; to snuffle or cry with a runny nose”
16th Century
English
snivel
“To snuffle or whine in a weak, contemptible way”
Modern English
English
snivel
“To cry or breathe noisily with a runny nose, often in a whining manner”