snack
UK[snæk]US[snæk]
n
A small amount of food eaten between meals or in place of a meal.
v
To eat a snack.
Etymology
The word 'snack' entered English in the 14th century from the Middle Dutch 'snacken', meaning "to snap at or bite," which is likely of imitative origin, echoing the quick, sharp action of biting. It is related to the Middle Low German 'snacken' and the Swedish 'snäppa'. Originally, it carried the sense of a snap or a bite, particularly from a dog. Over time, this literal sense of a quick bite evolved metaphorically to refer to a light, hurried meal or a small portion of food consumed quickly, solidifying its modern meaning by the mid-18th century. The journey from an onomatopoeic verb for biting to a noun for informal food perfectly captures the word's conceptual logic.
Analysis
The word 'snack' is a simplex word derived from Middle Dutch. Its core morpheme is the entire word 'snack', which functions as a noun or verb root meaning a bite or a share of food.
Examples
I usually have a mid-morning snack like an apple or some nuts.
Instead of a big lunch, we decided to just snack on some cheese and crackers.
The vending machine in the lobby offers a variety of healthy snacks.