snort

Etymology

From Middle English snorten, from earlier fnorten, probably related to Middle English snoren, fnoren, from Old English fnora. See snore and sneeze for more on the change from fn- to sn-.

noun

1. The sound made by exhaling or inhaling roughly through the nose.
2. (slang) A dose of snuff or other drug to be snorted.
3. (slang) A consumed portion of alcoholic drink.
   She unlocked the top drawer of the roll-top desk, took out a bottle and a glass and poured herself a snort. 1945, John Steinbeck, Cannery Row
   Everybody tipped up the jug and took a snort of whisky and followed it with a gourd of cool water. We thought a snort of whisky now and then braced us up some and put a little more lift in us. 1951, Indiana Historical Society Publications, volumes 16-17, page 157
   "It won't buy you any wine," Paxton told him. "I know that," the drunk replied in an insulted tone. "It's a pussy pass, ain't it?" Paxton grinned wearily. "How would you know that? You'd rather have a snort than a screw any day." 1978, George G. Gilman, Edge: Red River, Pinnacle Books, page 45
4. (nautical, UK) A submarine snorkel.

verb

1. (intransitive) To make a snort; to exhale roughly through the nose.
   She snorted with laughter.
   Disembarkation seemed a slow business. From the deck one watched a "Merchant Navy" Pacific drift lazily along the track beside the wall of the Marine Station, and little South Eastern tanks go snorting fussily about. 1946 January and February, 'Talisman', “Bückeburg to Aberayron”, in Railway Magazine, page 41
2. (transitive) To express or force out by snorting.
   He snorted a derisory reply and turned on his heel.
3. (intransitive) To express contempt or disgust by (or as if by) a snorting sound.
   Back in 2018, the body representing the water industry was snorting at Gove’s aspersions, declaring hotly that it looked forward to its pet regulator “bringing some sorely needed facts and balance to the debate”. 2023-06-30, Marina Hyde, “The tide is coming in fast on Rishi Sunak – and it’s full of sewage”, in The Guardian
4. (transitive, slang, originally US) To inhale (usually a drug) through the nose.
   to snort cocaine
5. (intransitive, obsolete) To snore.
6. (intransitive, nautical, of submarines) To sail at periscope depth through the use of a snort or snorkel.