). The large surface area helps evaporate the brandy into aroma, while the narrow opening helps to trap the aroma of the drink in the glass. The glass is usually able to hold between 180-240 ml (6-8 oz) but one should pour only 60-90 ml (2-3 oz) at a time.
"Snifter" is a British colloquialism for a small amount of alcohol in a glass.
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snifter — 1844, a drink of liquor, earlier a sniff, from an obsolete verb meaning to sniff, snivel (mid 14c.), of imitative origin. Meaning large bulbous stemmed glass for drinking brandy is from 1937. The association of drinking liquor with words for… … Etymology dictionary
snifter — ► NOUN informal 1) a small quantity of an alcoholic drink. 2) chiefly N. Amer. a balloon glass for brandy. ORIGIN imitative … English terms dictionary
snifter — [snif′tər] n. [< snift, var. of SNIFF ] ☆ 1. a footed goblet that tapers to a small opening to concentrate the aroma, as of brandy ☆ 2. Slang a small drink of liquor … English World dictionary
snifter — [[t]snɪ̱ftə(r)[/t]] snifters 1) N COUNT: oft N of n A snifter is a small amount of an alcoholic drink. [BRIT, INFORMAL] 2) N COUNT A snifter is a bowl shaped glass used for drinking brandy. [AM] … English dictionary
snifter — UK [ˈsnɪftə(r)] / US [ˈsnɪftər] noun [countable] Word forms snifter : singular snifter plural snifters 1) British informal old fashioned a small amount of an alcoholic drink 2) American a glass shaped like a bowl used for drinking brandy … English dictionary
snifter — I. /ˈsnɪftə/ (say sniftuh) noun 1. → balloon glass. 2. Colloquial a small drink of an alcoholic beverage. {British dialect snifter to sniff, from Middle English snifteren to sniff, from the notion that the glass is so designed that it is warmed… …
snifter — /snif teuhr/, n. 1. Also called inhaler. a pear shaped glass, narrowing at the top to intensify the aroma of brandy, liqueur, etc. 2. Informal. a very small drink of liquor. [1840 50; deriv. of snifter to sniff, snivel, ME snyfter; imit.] * * * … Universalium
snifter — snif|ter [ˈsnıftə US ər] n [Date: 1800 1900; Origin: snifter to sniff (14 19 centuries), from the sound] 1.) AmE a special large glass for drinking ↑brandy 2.) BrE old fashioned a small amount of an alcoholic drink … Dictionary of contemporary English
snifter — a drink of spirits Literally, a sniff, whence a small portion of brandy etc. offered so that the aroma can be sampled, and then any spirits: He turned, snifter in hand. (Wodehouse, 1934) … How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms
snifter — snif•ter [[t]ˈsnɪf tər[/t]] n. 1) cer vin a pear shaped glass, narrowing at the top to intensify the aroma of brandy, liqueur, etc 2) +vin Informal. a very small drink of liquor • Etymology: 1840–50; der. of snifter to sniff, snivel, ME snyfteren … From formal English to slang
