snitch

Meaning

Verb

1. (intransitive, slang) To inform on, especially in betrayal of others.
2. (intransitive, slang) To contact or cooperate with the police for any reason.
3. (dated, slang, transitive) To steal, quickly and quietly.

Noun

1. (slang) A thief.
2. (slang) An informer, one who betrays their group.
3. (British, slang) A nose.
4. A tiny morsel.
5. A ball used in the sport of Quidditch: the Golden Snitch.

Synonyms

sneak

thieve

steal

denounce

rat

🐀

pinch

informer

snitcher

leak

grass

cop

👮

canary

sneaker

squealer

stool pigeon

swipe

pilfer

purloin

hook

🪝

shop

tell on

rob

thief

betray

nick

give away

shit

💩

glom

nark

fink

knock off

inform

bag

stoolie

stoolpigeon

informant

stag

🦌

shoplift

sing

snaffle

snarf

squeal

stool

supply

telltale

shit on

veal

walk off

weasel

yield

Translations

delatar

klauen

delatar

voler

robar

denunciare

denunciar

denunciar

rubare

denunciar

angeben

petzen

Spitzel

grattare

Pronounced as (IPA)

/snɪt͡ʃ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: snacche

Cognate with Middle English: snik snak

Inherited from Middle English: sniken

Inherited from Old English: snīcan

In summary

Origin uncertain. Perhaps an alteration of Middle English snacche (“a trap, snare”), snacchen (“to seize (prey)”, whence modern English snatch). Compare also Middle English snik snak (“a sudden blow, snap”). Alternatively, perhaps from a dialectal variant of sneak, from Middle English sniken, from Old English snīcan (“to creep; crawl”). More at sneak.