What does snuffbox mean?
A snuffbox is a small box made to hold snuff, a finely powdered form of tobacco that was taken by sniffing it into the nostrils. Snuffboxes were commonly carried in the pocket and were often made from attractive materials such as silver, gold, ivory, tortoiseshell, or enamel. They frequently became decorative objects in their own right, with elaborate lids and engraved designs, and surviving examples are now studied by collectors and museums. Although snuff-taking was once an established social habit, its use has largely disappeared. Today, “snuffbox” is therefore encountered mainly in historical writing, descriptions of antiques, or the names of specialized objects in art and material culture. The word is more specific than a general “tobacco box” because it refers to a container for powdered snuff rather than cigarettes, cigars, or loose tobacco.
nounA small box for holding snuff, especially a decorative or portable container carried by people who took snuff. Today the term is chiefly historical or used in reference to antique snuffboxes and other collectible containers.
- A small, often highly decorated box in which snuff was kept.
"The museum displayed an ornate silver snuffbox beside a set of engraved tools."
"He tucked the little snuffbox into his waistcoat pocket."
"The auction included a rare painted snuffbox from the 18th century."
The regular plural is “snuffboxes.”
"Several ornate snuffboxes were sold at the auction."
Snuffboxes transformed a small container for powdered tobacco into a miniature work of art, often fitted with silver, enamel, or precious decorations.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does snuffbox come from?
Snuffbox is a compound of the English words “snuff” and “box.” “Snuff” in the tobacco sense denotes finely powdered tobacco, while “box” refers to a small container; the compound developed as a plain descriptive term before many snuffboxes became ornate personal accessories. Its history is closely connected with the widespread social practice of taking snuff in Europe during the earlier modern period.
How snuffbox is actually used
The term is now mainly historical, literary, or specialist, especially in antiques and collecting. The practice of taking snuff is no longer common, so modern references usually concern the container rather than its everyday use.