An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/schnüffeln

by Friedrich Kluge

schnüffeln, vb., ‘to sniff, smell,’ ModHG. only, formed from LG. and Du. snuffelen, ‘to smell,’ allied to Du. snuf, ‘scenting’; comp. E. to snuff, sniff, to snivel (also the subst. snivel, AS. snofl); see the following word.