Snag | n. [ Prov. E., n., a lump on a tree where a branch has been cut off; v., to cut off the twigs and small branches from a tree, of Celtic origin; cf. Gael. snaigh, snaidh, to cut down, to prune, to sharpen, p. p. snaighte, snaidhte, cut off, lopped, Ir. snaigh a hewing, cutting. ] 1. A stump or base of a branch that has been lopped off; a short branch, or a sharp or rough branch; a knot; a protuberance. [ 1913 Webster ] The coat of arms Now on a naked snag in triumph borne. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. A tooth projecting beyond the rest; contemptuously, a broken or decayed tooth. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ] 3. A tree, or a branch of a tree, fixed in the bottom of a river or other navigable water, and rising nearly or quite to the surface, by which boats are sometimes pierced and sunk. [ 1913 Webster ] 4. (Zool.) One of the secondary branches of an antler. [ 1913 Webster ] [ 1913 Webster ] Snag boat, a steamboat fitted with apparatus for removing snags and other obstructions in navigable streams. [ U.S. ] -- Snag tooth. Same as Snag, 2. [ 1913 Webster ] How thy snag teeth stand orderly, Like stakes which strut by the water side. J. Cotgrave. [ 1913 Webster ] |
Snag | v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Snagged p. pr. & vb. n. Snagging ] 1. To cut the snags or branches from, as the stem of a tree; to hew roughly. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. To injure or destroy, as a steamboat or other vessel, by a snag, or projecting part of a sunken tree. [ U. S. ] [ 1913 Webster ] [ 1913 Webster ] |