English
snitch
Snitch may come from Middle English snacche ‘a trap, snare’.
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500snacche‘a trap, snare’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1897snitch
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500snacche‘a trap, snare’uncertain
- Englishearliest quotation 1897snitch
Earliest quotation: 1897, W.S. Maugham, Liza of Lambeth: “'Yah, I wouldn't git a second-'and dress at a…”
Every English word from Middle English snacche
Today it means
verb To inform on someone, especially in betrayal of others.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Middle English snacche / snitch