snaggle teeth

Preserved but no longer current.

Meaning · English

Those that are uneven, and unpleasant looking.—West.

Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “snaggle teeth” mean?

Those that are uneven, and unpleasant looking.—West.

Is “snaggle teeth” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.