snaky

Adjective

snaky (comparative snakier, superlative snakiest)

1. Resembling or relating to snakes; snakelike.
   • [S]ome of Serpent kinde
     Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd
     Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings.1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature...
   • There is a snaky gleam in her hard grey eye, as of anticipated rounds of buttered toast, relays of hot chops, worryings and quellings of young children, sharp snappings at poor Berry, and all the other delights of her Ogress's castle.1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, “Retribution”, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 594
2. Windy; winding; twisty; sinuous, wavy.
   • Walking through the snaky passages I was soon completely lost.
   • So are thoſe criſped ſnaky golden locks
     Which maketh ſuch wanton gambals with the wind,
     Vpon ſuppoſed faireneſſe, often knowne
     To be the dowry of a ſecond head,
     The skull that bred them in the Sepulcher.c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act...
3. (obsolete) Sly; cunning; deceitful.
   • So to the Coaſt of Jordan he directs
     His eaſie ſteps; girded with ſnaky wiles, […]1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC, page 7, lines 119–120
4. (obsolete) Covered with serpents; having serpents.
   • What was that ſnakie headed Gorgon ſheild
     That wiſe Minerva wore, unconquer’d virgin
     Wherewith ſhe freez’d her foes to congeal’d ſtone?
     But rigid looks of Chaſt auſteritie
     And noble grace that daſh’t brute violence
     With ſudden adoration, and blancke aw.1634 October 9 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), [John Milton], edited by H[enry] Lawes, A Maske Presented at Ludlow Castle, 1634: […] [Comus], London: […] [Augustine Matthews] for Hvmphrey...
   • His Hat, adorn’d with Wings, diſclos’d the God,
     And in his Hand he bore the Sleep-compelling Rod:
     Such as he ſeem’d, when at his Sire’s Command
     On Argus Head he laid the Snaky Wand; […]1700, [John] Dryden, “Palamon and Arcite: Or, The Knight’s Tale. In Three Books.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC, book I, page 21