to snake

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

To crawl like a snake. A common expression at the West. A fine example of the use of this term is given in the N. Y. Tribune, from one of the Western newspapers:


In Iowa, as in other new countries, the duties of a judge often begin before a court-house or place of shelter has been provided. Not long since, Judge Williams was obliged to hold his first court beneath the shade of a large tree, where logs were rolled up for seats, a larger one being provided for the Judge. The clerk used a shingle on his knee for a desk; and the jury, after being charged by the judge, were sent in care of a sheriff to a hollow, or ravine, where they could sit in conclave beyond the view of the court or spectators.

The grass grew very tall in the neighborhood, and the jurymen lay down in a ring in the grass, where they could more perfectly exclude themselves from observation. The jury had not been long in their quarters, when a tall, raw-boned fellow, rose up and addressed the judge as follows:

"May it please your honor, I wish to speak to you." "Order, sir; what is it?" "Judge," continued he, with the utmost gravity, "is it right for fellows to snake in the grass?" "How? what is that, sir?" "Why, you see," said the Yankee, "there's some fellows who's tarnal fraid the Grand Jury will find something agin 'em, which they desarve, and they are snaking up to the Grand Jury, on their bellies in the grass, kind of trying to hear what the Jury are talking about." "No," responded the Judge, with as much gravity as he could command, "I do not allow of snaking. Here, Mr. Sheriff, go station a guard around each Jury's hollow, and if a man is found 'snaking' have him brought before me, and I will cause him to be punished. Indeed, if thls snaking is persisted in, I shall recommend a special act to be passed, making it a misdemeanor."

The fact was, as the Judge said, there were present at the time some barefooted, vagrant rascals, who were, probably, justly suspected of horse-stealing, and had "snaked it" on the Grand Jury, in order to find out whether the Jury intended to present them; and, if so, to gain time by this clandestine warning, and flee the jurisdiction of the Court by escaping into Missouri.

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

← to smutch   ×   to snake out →

Related Words