Notes & Queries Archive
NOTE1850

PROVINCIAL WORDS

By R. R.

In *Twelfth Night*, Act ii. Scene 3., occur the words "Sneck up," in C. Knight's edition, or "Snick up," Mr. Collier's edition. These words appear most unaccountably to have puzzled the commentators. Sir Toby Belch uses them in reply to Malvolio, as,— *Enter* MALVOLIO."*Mal.* My masters, are you mad? or what are you? Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night? Do you make an alehouse of my lady's house, that you squeak out your cozier's catches without any mitigation or remorse of voice? Is there no respect of place, person, nor time, in you? "*Sir…

Topics: Victorian Literature, Provincial Words, Shakespearean Language

Locations: Lancashire, North of England, Scotland