Sniffilus?

[Meowmie]

Please forgive my spelling because I am relying off of memory here at
work. I started reading again while brushing my teeth this morning on
the Occupathy(???) chapter and Sirius called Snape Sniffilus. WHO THE
HECK IS SNIFFILUS? His name is Severus. Unless I'm missing an inside
joke, I'd like someone to explain that to me. If you have to
reference a previous book, please do so because I own them all.

On a personal note, I don't know about anyone else in the group over
the age of 21, but I am truly frustrated because I cannot devote a lot
of time reading this book. Since our economy is pure CRAP (in the US)
right now, my part-time job (bartending) has slashed my reading time
and I feel so behind other fans. But many of my friends are in the
same boat. We pre-registered, cut work early, stood in line, and got
the book.....only to crash out sleeping when we got home because we
work so much. The only bright side is that I don't have kids
yet....then I'd still be of friggin' Privet Drive.

thanks!
meowmie2two

aka for this group: Angelina :)

[Darmok]

Post by Meowmie
Please forgive my spelling because I am relying off of memory here at
work. I started reading again while brushing my teeth this morning on
the Occupathy(???) chapter and Sirius called Snape Sniffilus. WHO THE
HECK IS SNIFFILUS? His name is Severus. Unless I'm missing an inside
joke, I'd like someone to explain that to me. If you have to
reference a previous book, please do so because I own them all.
On a personal note, I don't know about anyone else in the group over
the age of 21, but I am truly frustrated because I cannot devote a lot
of time reading this book. Since our economy is pure CRAP (in the US)
right now, my part-time job (bartending) has slashed my reading time
and I feel so behind other fans. But many of my friends are in the
same boat. We pre-registered, cut work early, stood in line, and got
the book.....only to crash out sleeping when we got home because we
work so much. The only bright side is that I don't have kids
yet....then I'd still be of friggin' Privet Drive.
thanks!
meowmie2two
aka for this group: Angelina :)

...

Snivelus was the demeaning nickname given to Snape by Moony, Padfoot,
Prongs and Wormtail.

Don't you remember kids making fun of other kids at school,
intentionally mispronouncing their names, just to antagonize them?
Same thing apparently goes on at Hogwarts.

[Moxie]

Post by Meowmie
Please forgive my spelling because I am relying off of memory here at
work. I started reading again while brushing my teeth this morning on
the Occupathy(???) chapter and Sirius called Snape Sniffilus. WHO THE
HECK IS SNIFFILUS?

'Snivelus' is a JKR deriviative of Snivelling and it is a derogatory name

that James uses for Severus.

sniv·el:

Etymology: Middle English, from (assumed) Old English snyflan; akin to Dutch
snuffelen to snuffle, snuffen to sniff
Date: 14th century
1 : to run at the nose
2 : to snuff mucus up the nose audibly : SNUFFLE
3 : to cry or whine with snuffling
4 : to speak or act in a whining, sniffling, tearful, or weakly emotional
manner


Moxie

[Rebecca Webb]

Since they not only call him this but Sirius goes on to ask what Snape's
gonna do (about their attack), wipe his nose on them (forget the
wording)... makes me wonder if the reason they call him is not only
because it's a nice take-off on Severus but because they did indeed make
him cry in public at some point. I think I'd vomit.

RW

[Tig]

I just posted a similar message on the other Snivellus thread. I don't
believe Sirius (much as I like the guy) for a second when he makes
Snape sound like a full-fledged bully. The Marauders were probably
many of the main contributors to Snape's mean personality and his
ability to hide his feelings. (latter makes for a great spy!) Malfoy
was probably around three years older than Snape so without a presence
like Lucius, Snape is an easy target especially if he had spent his
first few years as Lucius's own mini-Goyle. S'all right, I still love
the Potions Master best^_^

Tig

[Fish Eye no Miko]

Malfoy was probably around three years older than Snape

At the time of GoF, JKR said that Snape was about 35-36. In OtP, it's
stated that Lucius is 41. So Lucius is at least 4 years older than Snape.

Catherine Johnson.
--
fenm at cox dot net
"My whole life's been built on lies. I just... I guess I thought this one
was better than the others."
-Connor, _Angel_.

[Earwax]

Post by Meowmie
Please forgive my spelling because I am relying off of memory here at
work. I started reading again while brushing my teeth this morning on
the Occupathy(???) chapter and Sirius called Snape Sniffilus. WHO THE
HECK IS SNIFFILUS? His name is Severus. Unless I'm missing an inside
joke, I'd like someone to explain that to me. If you have to
reference a previous book, please do so because I own them all.

They call him snivellus, which is short for sniveling Severus, I
think.

--

[Richard Eney]

,snip>

Post by Earwax
They call him snivellus, which is short for sniveling Severus, I
think.

Yeah, or something to that effect^_^ Sirius was the one who said that
Snape came to Hogwarts knowing more hexes than half the seventh years
so it was probably an exaggeration on his part. Grant it, Snape was
jumped and with his wand in his bag, he didn't have a prayer. My guess
is the nickname came about after a few too many hexes from the
Marauders in a previous encounter that may have caused the little guy
to cry.

There's no real need to assume he ever actually cried - the similarity of
the words is enough to get the nickname started. Harry never did anything
"potty" but that doesn't stop Draco from calling him Potty Potter.

=Tamar