… took snuff at the ostentation of her crooked consort. Samuel Lucas
b
chiefly Scotland: a fit of resentment or indignation : huff
To take a thing in snuff was to take it offensively, and express contempt of the offender by drawing up the nostril …All the Year Round: A Weekly Journal
: to crop the snuff of (a candle) by pinching or by the use of snuffers so as to brighten the light
She hastily snuffed her candle—it was burning dim … Francis Warre Cornish
The man took up the candle, snuffed it with his fingers, and striding up to Ephraim held the light full in his face … Mary Elizabeth Braddon
2
a
: to extinguish (a flame, a candle, etc.) by or as if by the use of a candlesnuffer
Fire crews were making progress as they continued to patrol the town, snuffing small spot fires and sparking a controlled burn to protect the remaining buildings.The Globe and Mail (Canada)
—often used with out
He lit the cones and immediately snuffed them out. Daniel P. WienerI snuffed out my tallow candle, jumped into my coat and moccasins, and plunged out into the snow. Jean Craighead George(figurative) Four cubic miles of volcanic ash and other debris shot as high as 30 miles into the atmosphere, snuffing out the daylight and covering nearby islands with several feet of ash. Cheryl Simon
b
: to cause the end of : to put an end to
Three interceptions in the fourth quarter snuffed San Diego's remaining hopes. John Papanek
—usually used with out
The rebellion might have been easily snuffed out then. Jeffrey Bartholet
… the man did look absolutely dreadful; dreadful enough that he should almost certainly have snuffed it by now … Matthew Waldram
… a fairly detailed itinerary had emerged giving me the opportunity to achieve at least half of the items on the 'before I snuff it' list. Sydney Marcellus Operahouse
up to snuff
: of sufficient quality : meeting an applicable standard