snatch
UK: snætʃ | US: snætʃ
vt. to seize or grasp something suddenly or forcibly
vt. to take or steal something quickly
n. an act of snatching
n. a fragment or brief extract
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The word "snatch" originates from Middle English snacchen, meaning "to seize suddenly," likely imitative of a quick, sharp action. It shares roots with Old Norse snaska ("to bite") and Dutch snakken ("to gasp or long for"), reflecting a core idea of abrupt, forceful motion. Over time, it evolved to emphasize speed and stealth in taking or stealing.
The thief tried to snatch her purse but failed.
He snatched the last piece of cake before anyone noticed.
The eagle swooped down to snatch a fish from the water.
She managed to snatch a few hours of sleep during the flight.
The article included a snatch of dialogue from the interview.