snit

Etymology 1

American English, of unknown origin, perhaps onomatopoeic.

noun

  1. A temper; a lack of patience; a bad mood.
    He's in a snit because he got passed over for promotion.
    First, I think that the NPR leadership made a mistake in appearing to fire Williams in a snit, rather than not renewing his contract, at the next opportunity, because of longstanding differences in journalistic values. 2010-10-25, James Fallows, “Why NPR Matters (Long)”, in The Atlantic
    She was confused. Now that he had worked himself into a snit he'd be angry if she unmade the bed and did what he wanted. 2013, Florida Ann Town, On the Rim, page 84

Etymology 2

Likely related to Proto-Germanic *snidaz, i.e. a a little, a bit. Also perhaps from obsolete German Schnitt which is a small amount of beer served in a larger glass.

noun

  1. A U.S. unit of volume for liquor equal to 2 jiggers, 3 U.S. fluid ounces, or 88.7 milliliters.
  2. (US, dialect) A beer chaser commonly served in three-ounce servings in highball or juice glasses with a Bloody Mary cocktail in the upper midwest states of United States including Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Illinois.
    The bartender served us each a snit with our Bloody Marys this morning.

Etymology 3

From German Schnitte (“slice”).

noun

  1. (especially dialectal, e.g. West Virginia, Lunenburg, chiefly in the plural) A slice of dried fruit.
    Scenes of plenty, bliss Arcad'n' Sparkling eyes and rosy features; Joyous, blessed, happy creatures! Apple snits and pumpkin slices; Eggs and butter bring good prices! Gran'ries full and runnin' Over; Bulging haymows sweet with clover; ... 1898, Herald and Presbyter, page 38
    For instance, a recipe for pear butter calls for 6 “buckets” of pear snits, 5 “buckets” of water and 40 lbs. of sugar. 1947, The Mennonite Community, volumes 1-3, page 13
    Nora Virginia Wolfe Houldershell (Moorefield, West Virginia), and how she dried fruit […] "They called the dried apple peels 'apple snits' and hung them on the tree at Christmas along with popcorn, cranberries, and other edibles. Grandma Wolfe made watermelon wine from the flesh and juice, pickles from the rind, and planted [them]." 2011, Faye Porter, At My Grandmother's Knee: Recipes and Memories Handed Down By Women of the South, Thomas Nelson, page 79
    We like to dip apple snits in hot cocoa and imagine the Stag of Yule coming to the windows of our house, even though we are three blocks from the woods! Apples are among the favorite foods of deer, […] 2013, Montague Whitsel, The Fires of Yule: A Keltelven Guide for Celebrating the Winter Solstice, AuthorHouse, page 98
    One year, he brought them a bag of dried apple snits. The tangy dried fruits were quite a treat. The pieces of apple were tasty, but the best part of all was that Mother had made a delicious apple snit pie from some of them! 2017, Robin Propst Kile, Hidden in the Mountains: Fort Seybert 1758, LifeRich Publishing

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