Chapter Slug-abed to Snakes in his Boots of S by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

slander has some foundation. The reverse proverb, “No fire without smoke,” means no good without some drawback.
   To end in smoke. To come to no practical result. The allusion is to kindling, which smokes, but will not light a fire.
   To smoke the calumet (or pipe) of peace. (See Calumet.)

Smoke Farthings An offering given to the priest at Whitsuntide, according to the number of chimneys in his parish.

“The Bishop of Elie hath out of everie parish in Cambridgeshire a certain tribute called ... smoke-farthings, which the churchwardens do levie according to the number of chimneys that be in a parish”- MSS. Baker, xxxix. 326.

Smoke Silver A modus of 6d. in lieu of tithe firewood.

Snack The snack of a door (Norfolk) The latch. Generally called the “sneck” (q.v.).
   To take a snack. To take a morsel.
   To go snacks. To share and share alike.

Snails have no sex, “chacun remissant les deux sexes.” (Anglo-Saxon, snægl.)

Snake-Stones Small rounded stones or matters compounded by art, and supposed to cure snake-bites. Mr. Quekett discovered that two given to him for analysis were composed of vegetable matters. Little perforated stones are sometimes hung on cattle to charm away adders.

Snake in the Grass A secret enemy; an enemy concealed from sight. Rhyming slang, “a looking-glass.”

“Latet anguis in herba.”
Virgil. Eclogue iii. 93.

Snakes in his Boots (To have). To suffer from D.T. (delirium tremens) This is one of the delusions common to those so afflicted.

“He's been pretty high on whisky for two or three days, ... and they say he's got snakes in his boots now.”- The Barton Experiment, chap. ix.