"Lapdog" and "snivel"

[onnanokata]

No: HPFGUIDX 114974


"dungrollin" wrote:
 
I've found this thread very interesting, but can't help but wonder 
how many other degrogatory nicknames can be made from 'Severus'...
 
I can't think of any.
 
On the basis of that, it seems to me a mite odd to infer a huge 
amount from Snivellus.  I somehow don't think JKR came up with the 
nickname and then cast around for a name for Snape that would fit 
it...
 
Anyone more creative than me?
 
Dungrollin

Dharma replies:

Kids are creative in their cruelty and lack of respect for one 
another in many instances.  I could certainly imagine nicknames like:

Severe Headache
Severe Pain
Sneakerus
Slimypuss
Slimerus
Servilerus
Whimperus
Gitterus
Cowardus
Odorus
Skulkerus
Slitherus
Blunderus
Confunderous
Oblivious
Nausea-us

I'm not sure that any other nickname could convey so many interesting 
negative character traits at once.  Snivel conveys a particular kind 
of obsequiousness to me that most other words don't.  I've always 
speculated that the nickname Snivellus was someone how tied to his 
relationship with Lucius.  I'm guessing that Severus had an 
attachment to Lucius at school that was similar to the attachment 
Peter had to James.