noun
snuffbox
SNUF-boks
Snuffbox (noun) means a small container people use for carrying snuff or loose tobacco. Example: “She admired the finely engraved snuffbox in the museum case.”
noun
1
A small container people use for carrying snuff or loose tobacco.
"She admired the finely engraved snuffbox in the museum case."
"He kept a pinch of snuff in a small snuffbox in his pocket."
"Collectors prize antique snuffboxes for their fine decoration."
How to use snuffbox
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA snuffbox is a small container for carrying snuff.
When to use it
Snuffbox is a specific historical and collecting term rather than everyday vocabulary.
Memory tip
Break the word into snuff plus box to remember it simply means a box for snuff.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
silver snuffbox
antique snuffbox
engraved snuffbox
ornate snuffbox
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Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She admired the finely engraved _____ in the museum case.
Etymology
Snuffbox is formed by joining the English words snuff and box.
Frequently asked questions
What is a snuffbox for?
A snuffbox is a small container used to carry and store snuff, a powdered form of tobacco.
Are snuffboxes still used today?
They are mostly associated with earlier centuries, though some people who take snuff still use them and collectors value old examples.
What are snuffboxes also called?
In British slang, a snuffbox was sometimes called a sneeze-box, a dated informal term.
What is the meaning of snuffbox?
"snuffbox" (noun) means a small container people use for carrying snuff or loose tobacco.
