Webster
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Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Sniff

Sniff (snĭf), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Sniffed or Snift; p. pr. & vb. n. Sniffing.] [OE. sneven; akin to snivel, snuff; cf. Dan. snive to sniff. See Snuff, v. t.] To draw air audibly up the nose; to snuff; — sometimes done as a gesture of suspicion, offense, or contempt.

So ye grow squeamish, gods, and sniff at heaven. M. Arnold.

Sniff, v. t. 1. To draw in with the breath through the nose; as, to sniff the air of the country.

2. To perceive as by sniffing; to snuff, to scent; to smell; as, to sniff danger.

Sniff, n. The act of sniffing; perception by sniffing; that which is taken by sniffing; as, a sniff of air.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Noah Porter, editor (Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913). Public domain. Text as transcribed by MICRA, Inc., from Project Gutenberg. Changed for Deep Dive Bible: Greek, which our source spelled in Latin letters, set in Greek letters; entries of one spelling merged into one article.