An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Schnabel
Schnabel, m., ‘beak, bill,’ from the equiv. MidHG. snabel, m., OHG. snabul, m.; corresponding to Du. snavel, ‘beak, trunk’ (of an elephant), sneb, ‘beak,’ OFris. snavel, ‘mouth.’ To these, from the relation of Malz to schmelzen (Aryan root meld, smeld), the following are also allied — Du. neb, f., ‘beak,’ E. nib, AS. nębb, ‘beak, face,’ OIc. nef, n., ‘nose’ (as well as ‘sharp-scented’). From Teut. are derived the cognates of Ital. niffo, ‘snout, trunk.’ Teut. snabja-, snabala- (from an Aryan root snap, nap), agrees with Lith. snápas, ‘beak.’ Comp. schnappen, Schnepfe, and Schneppe.