sneak

Etymology

Possibly from Middle English sniken (“to creep, crawl”), from Old English snīcan (“to creep, crawl”), from Proto-West Germanic *snīkan, from Proto-Germanic *snīkaną (“to creep, crawl”), which is related to the root of snake. Compare Danish snige (“to sneak”), Swedish snika (“to sneak, hanker after”), Icelandic sníkja (“to sneak, hanker after”). Possibly related to snitch.

noun

1. One who sneaks; one who moves stealthily to acquire an item or information.
   My little brother is such a sneak; yesterday I caught him trying to look through my diary.
2. The act of sneaking
3. A cheat; a con artist.
   I can't believe I gave that sneak $50 for a ticket when they were selling for $20 at the front gate.
4. An informer; a tell-tale.
5. (obsolete, cricket) A ball bowled so as to roll along the ground; a daisy-cutter
6. (US) A sneaker; a tennis shoe.
   We would have been laughed off the street in Philadelphia if we were seen wearing sneaks. In the big city, the young population wore loafers or boots. 2014, Faye McKnight, Goodnight, Bob, page 9
7. (American football) A play where the quarterback receives the snap and immediately dives forward.

verb

1. (intransitive) To creep or go stealthily; to come or go while trying to avoid detection, as a person who does not wish to be seen.
   He decided to sneak into the kitchen for a second cookie while his mom was on the phone.
   Some of these were dressed most gorgeously, others becomingly, and several sneaked in with fantail bangers, calling themselves "Gentlemen of the Nineteenth Century." 9 Jul 1885, The Hamilton Spectator, page 4
2. (transitive) To take something stealthily without permission.
   I went to sneak a chocolate but my dad caught me.
3. (ditransitive) To stealthily bring someone something.
   She asked me to sneak her a phone next month.
4. (transitive, dated) To hide, especially in a mean or cowardly manner.
   [Slander] sneaks its head. 1701, William Wake, A rationale upon some texts of Scripture
5. (intransitive, informal, with on) To inform an authority of another's misdemeanours.
   If you sneak on me I'll bash you!

adj

1. In advance; before release to the general public.
   The company gave us a sneak look at their new electronic devices.
2. In a stealthy or surreptitious manner.
   I was able to get a sneak peek at the guest list.
   I have ordered House Atreides to occupy Arrakis to mine the spice, thus replacing their enemies the Harkonnens. House Atreides will not refuse because of the tremendous power they think they will gain. Then, at an appointed time, Baron Harkonnen will return to Arrakis and launch a sneak attack on House Atreides. I have promised the Baron five legions of my Sardaukar terror troops. 1984, 8:38 from the start, in Dune (Science Fiction), →OCLC