Definition of the word snub

The word "snub" is derived from an Old English language word "snīpan" which means "to cut off at the end" or "to chop or trim". This verb was used to describe the act of clipping the ears of animals like oxen or horses as a sign of their social status, as well as to trim the long hair on sailors' beards. The noun form "snub" was borrowed from Middle English in the 14th century, where it originally meant "the act of clipping the ears of cattle". By the 15th century, it began to take on a new meaning, which was to "reject with contempt" or "refuse to acknowledge or respond to someone". This usage of the term was probably influenced by the original meaning of "snipping off or cutting away" contemptuous gestures or actions. In modern use, "snub" can also mean "to ignore or reject something" or "to treat with scorn or disdain". The verb form of "snub" is still used in the context of trimming or cutting something, such as a tree branch or a snarl of rope, but this meaning is now less common. In conclusion, the origin of the word "snub" is rooted in an Old English word that described the practice of trimming the ears of animals as a sign of status, and its evolution into a term for rejecting someone or something has been shaped by its original meaning of cutting off or snipping away.