Smacking - Smelt

Smacking (?), a. Making a sharp, brisk sound; hence, brisk; as, a smacking breeze.
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Small (sm�l), a. [Compar. Smaller (?); superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. smæl; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.] 1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
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To compare
Great things with small. Milton.
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2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.
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3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
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A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. Carlyle.
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4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.
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5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. “A still, small voice.” 1 Kings xix. 12.
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Coloq. Great and small ,of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. “His quests, great and small.” Chaucer. -- Coloq. Small arms , muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. -- Coloq. Small beer . See under . -- Coloq. Small coal . (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. -- Coloq. Small craft (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. -- Coloq. Small fruits . See under . -- Coloq. Small hand , a certain size of paper. See under . -- Coloq. Small hours . See under . -- Coloq. Small letter . (Print.), a lower-case letter. See , and Capital letter, under , a. -- Coloq. Small piece , a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or about 41/2cents. -- Coloq. Small register . See the Note under 1st , 7. -- Coloq. Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. -- Coloq. Small talk , light or trifling conversation; chitchat. -- Coloq. Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M‘Culloch.
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Small, adv. 1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [Obs.] “I wept but small.” Chaucer. “It small avails my mood.” Shak.
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2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous]
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You may speak as small as you will. Shak.
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Small, n. 1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.
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2. pl. Smallclothes. [Colloq.] Hood. Dickens.
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3. pl. Same as Little go. See under , a.
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Small, v. t. To make little or less. [Obs.]
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Smallage (?), n. [Small + F. ache smallage. See parsley.] (Bot.) A biennial umbelliferous plant (Apium graveolens) native of the seacoats of Europe and Asia. When deprived of its acrid and even poisonous properties by cultivation, it becomes celery.
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Smallclothes (?), n. pl. A man's garment for the hips and thighs; breeches. See .
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Smallish, a. Somewhat small. G. W. Cable.
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Smallness, n. The quality or state of being small.
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Smallpox (?), n. [Small + pox, pocks.] (Med.) A contagious, constitutional, febrile disease characterized by a peculiar eruption; variola. The cutaneous eruption is at first a collection of papules which become vesicles (first flat, subsequently umbilicated) and then pustules, and finally thick crusts which slough after a certain time, often leaving a pit, or scar.
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Smalls (?), n. pl. See , n., 2, 3.
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Smallsword (?), n. A light sword used for thrusting only; especially, the sword worn by civilians of rank in the eighteenth century.
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Smally (?), adv. In a small quantity or degree; with minuteness. [R.] Ascham.
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Smalt (?), n. [It. smalto, LL. smaltum; of Teutonic origin; cf. OHG. smalz grease, butter, G. schmalz grease, OHG. smelzan to melt, G. schmelzen. See , v. t., and cf. , .] A deep blue pigment or coloring material used in various arts. It is a vitreous substance made of cobalt, potash, and calcined quartz fused, and reduced to a powder.
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Smalt-blue (?), a. Deep blue, like smalt.
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{ Smaltine (?), Smaltite (?), } n. [See .] (Min.) A tin-white or gray mineral of metallic luster. It is an arsenide of cobalt, nickel, and iron. Called also speiskobalt.
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Smaragd (?), n. [L. smaragdus. See .] The emerald. [Obs.] Bale.
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Smaragdine (?), a. [L. smaragdinus, Gr. ��.] Of or pertaining to emerald; resembling emerald; of an emerald green.
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Smaragdite (?), n. [Cf. F. smaragdite; -- so called from its emerald-green color. See .] (Min.) A green foliated kind of amphibole, observed in eclogite and some varietis of gabbro.
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Smart (smärt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Smarted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smarting.] [OE. smarten, AS. smeortan; akin to D. smarten, smerten, G. schmerzen, OHG. smerzan, Dan. smerte, Sw. smärta, D. smart, smert, a pain, G. schmerz, OHG. smerzo, and probably to L. mordere to bite; cf. Gr. smerdnos, smerdaleos, terrible, fearful, Skr. mṛd to rub, crush. Cf. .] 1. To feel a lively, pungent local pain; -- said of some part of the body as the seat of irritation; as, my finger smarts; these wounds smart. Chaucer. Shak.
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2. To feel a pungent pain of mind; to feel sharp pain or grief; to suffer; to feel the sting of evil; as, the team is still smarting from its loss of the championship.
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No creature smarts so little as a fool. Pope.
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He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it. Prov. xi. 15.
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Smart, v. t. To cause a smart in. “A goad that . . . smarts the flesh.” T. Adams.
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Smart, n. [OE. smerte. See , v. i.] 1. Quick, pungent, lively pain; a pricking local pain, as the pain from puncture by nettles. “In pain's smart.” Chaucer.
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2. Severe, pungent pain of mind; pungent grief; as, the smart of affliction.
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To stand 'twixt us and our deserved smart. Milton.
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Counsel mitigates the greatest smart. Spenser.
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3. A fellow who affects smartness, briskness, and vivacity; a dandy. [Slang] Fielding.
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4. Smart money (see below). [Canf]
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Smart (?), a. [Compar. Smarter (?); superl. Smartest.] [OE. smerte. See , v. i.] 1. Causing a smart; pungent; pricking; as, a smart stroke or taste.
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How smart lash that speech doth give my conscience. Shak.
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2. Keen; severe; poignant; as, smart pain.
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3. Vigorous; sharp; severe. “Smart skirmishes, in which many fell.” Clarendon.
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4. Accomplishing, or able to accomplish, results quickly; active; sharp; clever. [Colloq.]
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5. Efficient; vigorous; brilliant. “The stars shine smarter.” Dryden.
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6. Marked by acuteness or shrewdness; quick in suggestion or reply; vivacious; witty; as, a smart reply; a smart saying.
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Who, for the poor renown of being smart
Would leave a sting within a brother's heart? Young.
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A sentence or two, . . . which I thought very smart. Addison.
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7. Pretentious; showy; spruce; as, a smart gown.
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8. Brisk; fresh; as, a smart breeze.
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Coloq. Smart money . (a) Money paid by a person to buy himself off from some unpleasant engagement or some painful situation. (b) (Mil.) Money allowed to soldiers or sailors, in the English service, for wounds and injures received; also, a sum paid by a recruit, previous to being sworn in, to procure his release from service. (c) (Law) Vindictive or exemplary damages; damages beyond a full compensation for the actual injury done. Burrill. Greenleaf. -- Coloq. Smart ticket , a certificate given to wounded seamen, entitling them to smart money. [Eng.] Brande & C.
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Syn. -- Pungent; poignant; sharp; tart; acute; quick; lively; brisk; witty; clever; keen; dashy; showy. -- , . Smart has been much used in New England to describe a person who is intelligent, vigorous, and active; as, a smart young fellow; a smart workman, etc., conciding very nearly with the English sense of clever. The nearest approach to this in England is in such expressions as, he was smart (pungent or witty) in his reply, etc.; but smart and smartness, when applied to persons, more commonly refer to dress; as, a smart appearance; a smart gown, etc.
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Smarten (?), v. t. To make smart or spruce; -- usually with up. [Colloq.]
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She had to go and smarten herself up somewhat. W. Black.
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Smartle (?), v. i. To waste away. [Prov. Eng.]
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Smartly (?), adv. In a smart manner.
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Smartness, n. The quality or state of being smart.
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Smartweed (?), n. (Bot.) An acrid plant of the genus Polygonum (P. Hydropiper), which produces smarting if applied where the skin is tender.
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Smash (smăsh), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smashed (smăsht); p. pr. & vb. n. Smashing.] [Cf. Sw. smisk a blow, stroke, smiska to strike, dial. Sw. smaske to kiss with a noise, and E. smack a loud kiss, a slap.] 1. To break in pieces by violence; to dash to pieces; to crush.
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Here everything is broken and smashed to pieces. Burke.
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2. (Lawn Tennis) To hit (the ball) from above the level of the net with a very hard overhand stroke.
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Smash, v. i. To break up, or to pieces suddenly, as the result of collision or pressure.
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Smash, n. 1. A breaking or dashing to pieces; utter destruction; wreck.
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2. Hence, bankruptcy. [Colloq.]
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Smasher (smăshẽr), n. 1. One who, or that which, smashes or breaks things to pieces.
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2. Anything very large or extraordinary. [Slang]
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3. One who passes counterfeit coin. [Cant, Eng.]
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Smatch (?), n. [OE. smach, smak. See taste.] Taste; tincture; smack. [Obs.]
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Thy life hath had some smatch of honor in it. Shak.
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Smatch, v. i. To smack. [Obs.] Banister (1578).
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Smatter (?), v. i. [OE. smateren to make a noise; cf. Sw. smattra to clatter, to crackle, G. schmettern to dash, crash, to warble, quaver.] 1. To talk superficially or ignorantly; to babble; to chatter.
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Of state affairs you can not smatter. Swift.
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2. To have a slight taste, or a slight, superficial knowledge, of anything; to smack.
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Smatter, v. t. 1. To talk superficially about.
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2. To gain a slight taste of; to acquire a slight, superficial knowledge of; to smack. Chaucer.
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Smatter, n. Superficial knowledge; a smattering.
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Smatterer (?), n. One who has only a slight, superficial knowledge; a sciolist.
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Smattering, n. A slight, superficial knowledge of something; sciolism.
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I had a great desire, not able to attain to a superficial skill in any, to have some smattering in all. Burton.
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Smear (smēr), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smeared (smērd); p. pr. & vb. n. Smearing.] [OE. smeren, smerien, AS. smierwan, smyrwan, fr. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeren, OHG. smirwen, G. schmieren, Icel. smyrja to anoint. See , n.] 1. To overspread with anything unctuous, viscous, or adhesive; to daub; as, to smear anything with oil. “Smear the sleepy grooms with blood.” Shak.
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2. To soil in any way; to contaminate; to pollute; to stain morally; as, to be smeared with infamy. Shak.
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3. To smudge, blur, or render indistinct (writing, pictures, etc.).
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4. to vilify (a person); to damage (a person's reputation), especially falsely or by unfair innuendo, and with malicious intent.
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Smear, n. [OE. smere,. smeoru fat, grease; akin to D. smeer, G. schmeer, OHG. smero, Icel. smjör, Sw. & Dan. smör butter, Goth. smaírþr fatness, smarna dung; cf. Lith. smarsas fat. Cf. .] 1. A fat, oily substance; oinment. Johnson.
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2. Hence, a spot made by, or as by, an unctuous or adhesive substance; a blot or blotch; a daub; a stain.
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Slow broke the morn,
All damp and rolling vapor, with no sun,
But in its place a moving smear of light. Alexander Smith.
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Smearcase (?), n. [G. schmierkäse; schmier grease (or schmieren to smear) + käse cheese.] Cottage cheese. [Local, U. S.]
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Smear dab (?). (Zoöl.) The sand fluke (b). [Prov. Eng.]
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Smeared (?), a. (Zoöl.) Having the color mark ings ill defined, as if rubbed; as, the smeared dagger moth (Apatela oblinita).
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Smeary (?), a. Tending to smear or soil; adhesive; viscous. Rowe.
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Smeath (?), n. (Zoöl.) The smew. [Prov. Eng.]
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Smectite (?), n. [G. smectit, fr. Gr. �� a kind of fuller's earth, fr. �� to wipe off.] (Min.) A hydrous silicate of alumina, of a greenish color, which, in certain states of humidity, appears transparent and almost gelatinous.
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Smee (?), n. [Cf. .] (Zoöl.) (a) The pintail duck. (b) The widgeon. (c) The poachard. (d) The smew. [Prov. Eng.]
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Smeeth (?), v. t. [Etymol. uncertain.] To smoke; to blacken with smoke; to rub with soot. [Obs.]
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Smeeth (?), v. t. [OE. sme�en, AS. sm��ian. See .] To smooth. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Smegma (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. �� soap, fr. �� to wash off.] (Physiol.) The matter secreted by any of the sebaceous glands. Specifically: (a) The soapy substance covering the skin of newborn infants. (b) The cheesy, sebaceous matter which collects between the glans penis and the foreskin.
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Smegmatic (?), a. Being of the nature of soap; soapy; cleansing; detersive.
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Smeir (?), n. A salt glaze on pottery, made by adding common salt to an earthenware glaze.
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Smell (smĕl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelled (?), Smelt (�); p. pr. & vb. n. Smelling.] [OE. smellen, smillen, smullen; cf. LG. smellen, smelen, smölen, schmelen, to smoke, to reek, D. smeulen to smolder, and E. smolder. Cf. , n.] 1. To perceive by the olfactory nerves, or organs of smell; to have a sensation of, excited through the nasal organs when affected by the appropriate materials or qualities; to obtain the scent of; as, to smell a rose; to smell perfumes.
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2. To detect or perceive, as if by the sense of smell; to scent out; -- often with out. “I smell a device.” Shak.
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Can you smell him out by that? Shak.
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3. To give heed to. [Obs.]
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From that time forward I began to smellthe Word of God, and forsook the school doctors. Latimer.
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Coloq. To smell a rat , to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.] -- Coloq. To smell out , to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]
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Smell, v. i. 1. To affect the olfactory nerves; to have an odor or scent; -- often followed by of; as, to smell of smoke, or of musk.
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2. To have a particular tincture or smack of any quality; to savor; as, a report smells of calumny.
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Praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft. Milton.
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3. To exercise the sense of smell. Ex. xxx. 38.
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4. To exercise sagacity. Shak.
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Smell, n. [OE. smel, smil, smul, smeol. See , v. t.] (Physiol.) 1. The sense or faculty by which certain qualities of bodies are perceived through the instrumentally of the olfactory nerves. See .
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2. The quality of any thing or substance, or emanation therefrom, which affects the olfactory organs; odor; scent; fragrance; perfume; as, the smell of mint.
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Breathing the smell of field and grove. Milton.
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That which, above all others, yields the sweetest smell in the air, is the violent. Bacon.
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Syn. -- Scent; odor; perfume; fragrance.
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Smeller (?), n. 1. One who smells, or perceives by the sense of smell; one who gives out smell.
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2. The nose. [Pugilists' Slang]
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Smell-feast (?), n. 1. One who is apt to find and frequent good tables; a parasite; a sponger.
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The epicure and the smell-feast. South.
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2. A feast at which the guests are supposed to feed upon the odors only of the viands.
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Smelling, n. 1. The act of one who smells.
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2. The sense by which odors are perceived; the sense of smell. Locke.
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Coloq. Smelling bottle , a small bottle filled with something suited to stimulate the sense of smell, or to remove faintness, as spirits of ammonia.
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Smelling salts. An aromatic preparation of carbonate of ammonia and, often, some scent, to avoid or relieve faintness, headache, or the like.
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Smell-less, a. Destitute of smell; having no odor.
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Daisies smell-less, yet most quaint. Beau. & Fl.
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Smelt (?), imp. & p. p. of .
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Smelt, n. [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.] 1. (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of small silvery salmonoid fishes of the genus Osmerus and allied genera, which ascend rivers to spawn, and sometimes become landlocked in lakes. They are esteemed as food, and have a peculiar odor and taste.
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☞ The most important species are the European smelt (Osmerus eperlans) (called also eperlan, sparling, and spirling), the Eastern American smelt (O. mordax), the California smelt (O. thalichthys), and the surf smelt (Hypomesus olidus). The name is loosely applied to various other small fishes, as the lant, the California tomcod, the spawn eater, the silverside.
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2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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Coloq. Sand smelt (Zoöl.), the silverside.
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Smelt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Smelted; p. pr. & vb. n. Smelting.] [Of foreign origin; cf. Sw. smälta, D. smelten, Dan. smelte, Icel. smelta, G. schmelzen OHG. smelzan, smelzen; probably akin to Gr. ��. Cf. , , , v. i., .] (Metal.) To melt or fuse, as, ore, for the purpose of separating and refining the metal; hence, to reduce; to refine; to flux or scorify; as, to smelt tin.
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