smutch 
smutch (smueh), r. t. [Also Aial.xnioiirli, smooch 
(also smudge, q.v.); < Sw. xmiitiai = Dan. siumlm- 
= G. schmnt'i a. soil, sully, = J-). xuiiitxi'ii, soil, 
revile, insult, = MH<i. xninr.ru, x<-liiiint;eii, snil ; 
cf. Sw. >/, = Dan. smui/n = MIUJ. HIII~, <i. 
xcliHtitts, dirt, filth; connected with s>iiifi,niniti; 
smut.] To blacken with smoke, soot, or the 
like; smudge. 
What, hast tmvtch'd thy nose? Shot., W. T., i. 2. 1 21. 
Have you mark'd lut the fall of the snow, 
Before the soil hath nnvtch'd it? 
/.'. Jonmm, Devil ia an Ass, ii. 2. 
smutch (srauch), . [Also dial, smouch, smooch 
(also smudge, q. y.): see smutch, .] A black 
spot; a black stain; a smudge. 
That my mantle take no fnnutch 
From thy coarser garments touch. 
Fletcher, Poems, p. 101. (HattimU.) 
A broad gray smouch on each side. 
W. H. Doll, in .Scammon's Marine Mammals, p. 298. 
smutchint (smuch'in), n. [Prob. a var. of 
"smitfhin (found also as smidgen), < switch 1 , 
dust, etc.: see smitcli ! , xiiiiili/cn.] Snuff. 
The Spanish and Irish take it most in Powder, or Smutch- 
in, and it mightily refreshes the Brain, and I believe there 
is as much taken this way in Ireland as there Is in 
Pipes in England. Howett, Letters, iii. 7. 
smutchy (smuch'i), . [< smutch + -y 1 .] Mark- 
ed, or appearing as if marked, with a smutch or 
smutches. 
The illustrations . . . have that heavy and sinutehy ef- 
fect in the closely shaded parts which is a constant de- 
fect in mechanical engraving. The Nation, Dec. 20, 1883. 
smut-fungUS (smut'fung'gus), n. Seefun</iix, 
smut-ball, and smut, 3, 
sniuth (smnth), n. [Cf. smut.'] A miners' name 
for waste, poor, or small coal. See smut, 4. 
smut-machine (smufma-shen*'), n. A smut- 
mill. 
smut-mill (smut'mil), n. In milling, a machine 
for removing smut from wheat. It consisted ori- 
ginally of a cylindrical screen in which was a revolving 
brush that swept off the smut and forced it through the 
screen. Improved forms now consist of shaking tables 
and screens, revolving screens, perforated cylinders, and 
the like, combined with an air-blast ; and machines of this 
type, besides removing the smut, point and clean the 
grain. Compare separator, 2 (a). 
Smutsia (smut'si-a), n. [NL. (J. E. Gray): 
named from Smuts', a Dutch naturalist.] A 
genus of pangolins or scaly ant-eaters, of the 
family Maiiididse, containing the East African 
S. temmincM, about three feet long, with com- 
paratively short broad obtuse tail, short broad 
scales, and feet scaly to the toes. 
smuttied (smut'id), a. [< smutty + -erf 2 .] In 
bot., made smutty; covered with or bearing 
smut. 
smuttily (smut'i-li), adr. In a smutty manner, 
(a) Blackly ; smokily ; foully. (b) With obscene language. 
smuttiness (smut'i-nes), n. The state or prop- 
erty of being smutty, (a) The state or property of 
being soiled or smutted ; dirt from smoke, soot, coal, or 
smut. (b) Obsceneness of language. 
smutty (smut'i), a. [< smut + -i. Cf. D. 
smoddig, smodsig = G. ckm*teig = Sw. smuteig 
= Dan. smiidsig, smutty.] 1. Soiled with smut, 
coal, soot, or the like. 
I pray leave the smutty Air of London, and come hither 
to breathe sweeter. HoweU, Letters, I. iv. 5. 
The "Still," or Distillery, was a smutty, clouted, suspi- 
cious-looking building, down in a hollow by Mill Brook. 
/S. Jiull, Margaret, i. 15. 
2. Affected with smut or mildew. 
Smutty corn will sell dearer at one time than the clean 
at another. * 
3. Obscene; immodest; impure: as, smutty lan- 
guage. 
Let the grave sneer, sarcastic speak thee shrewd, 
The smutty Joke ridiculously lewd. Smollett, Advice. 
Smutty coot, the black scoter, (Edemia americana. See 
cut under (Edemia. [Salem, Massachusetts.] 
smutty-nosed (smut'i-nozd), a. In ornith., 
having black or blackish nostrils. The term is ap- 
plied specifically to (a) the black-tailed shearwater, Pvffi- 
ntu cinereus or Priofinwi melanurus, whieh has black nasal 
tubes on a yellow bill ; and (b) a dark-colored variety of 
the Canada jay found in Alaska, Perimreus canadenris 
fumifroits, having brownish nasal plumules. 
Smyrniot, Smyrniote (smer'ni-ot, -6t), . and 
a. [< NGr. 2/tvpviuTr/f, < Gr. Zuitpva, 'Luvpvn, L. 
Smyrna, Smyrna (see def.).] I. n. A native or 
an inhabitant of Smyrna, a city in Asia Minor. 
II. a. Of or pertaining to Smyrna. 
Smyrnium (smer'ni-um), n. [NL., < L. smyr- 
nioii, zmijrnium, < Gr. auvpviov, a plant having 
seeds smelling like myrrh, < afii'pva, Ionic auvprr/, 
var. of fivppa, myrrh.] A genus of umbellifer- 
ous plants of the tribe Ammineie, type of the 
subtribe SiHi/riiitie. It is characterized by polyga- 
mous flowers, seldom with any bracts or bractlets, and by 
6723 
fruit with :i two- cleft i arjiophorc, niimcroii oil-tubes, In- 
conspicuous or slightly prominent ridges without n.ik\ 
thickening, and ovoiil or roumhsli M r.ls with the- face 
deeply and broadly excavated. 'I he i; or ; loriix 
fies are all DOW Indnded in "lie, .v. liluxiilrina. a native 
of Kill-ope, northern Africa, and western Asia, extending 
along the shores northward to the English fha -1 II 
Is a smooth erect biennial, with dissected radii-al leaves, 
commonly sessile broad and undivided or three parted 
stem-leaves, ami yellow flowers liornc in iniiiij rayeil com- 
ponnd umbels. See alexunden, horse -parsley, and hlnck 
pat-herb (under pot-herb). 
smytet, r. An obsolete spelling (if HIH<I< . 
smyterie, smytrie (smit'ri), . [Sc., more prop. 
*mttery,<mMB, smi/te, a bit, part ii-li- : >f- .-unit-. 
smitch 1 ,] A numerous collection of small in- 
dividuals. 
A anytrif o' wee duddle weans. Burnt, The Twa Dogs, 
smytht, n. An obsolete spelling of smith. 
Sn. In ehem., the symbol fortin (Latin xtannum). 
snabble(snab'l), v. ; pret. and pp. sutibbled, ppr. 
MobbHng. [Var. of "snapplc, freq. of xiiii)i. \ I. 
trans. Torino; plunder; kill. Halliwell. [Prov. 
Eng.] 
II. Intrans. 1. To eat greedily. Haiti in-ll. 
[Prov. Eng.] 2. To shovel with the bill, as 
a water-fowl seeking for food. 
You see, sir, I was a cruising down the flats aliout sun- 
up, the tide list at the nip, as it Is now ; I see a whole pile 
of shoveler ducks gnabbling in the mud, and busy as dog- 
fish In herring-time. Fisheries of U. S., V. II. 612. 
snabby (snab'i), n. ; pi. snabbies (-iz). [Perhaps 
ult. connected with MD. snnbbe, snebbe, bill, 
beak: see snaffle and neb.] The chaffinch, 
l-'rini/illa cwlebs. [Scotch.] 
snack (snak), r. [< ME. snakken (also assibi- 
lated snaechen, snecchea, > E. snatch), snatch, = 
MD. snacken, snatch, snap, also as D. snakki-n, 
gasp, sob, desire, long for; prob. the same as 
MD. snacken, chatter, cackle, bark, MLG. LG. 
snacken = G. dial, schnakkcn, chatter; prob. ult., 
like snap, imitative of quick motion. Hence 
snatch.] I. trans. 1. To snatch. Halliirell. 
[Obsolete or prov. Eng.] 2. To bite. Lei-ins. 
3. To go snacks in; share. 
He and his comrades coming to an inn to snack their 
booty. 
Smith, Lives of Highwaymen (1719), i. 85. (Encyc. Diet.) 
II. intrans. To go snacks or shares ; share. 
Who is that that is to be bubbled? Faith, let me sitack; 
I han't met with a bubble since Christmas. 
Wycherley, Country Wife, ill 2. 
snack (snak), H. [< snack, r. Cf. snatch.] 1. 
A snatch or snap, as of a dog's jaws. 2. A 
bite, as of a dog. Levins. 3. A portion of 
food that can be eaten hastily; a slight, hasty 
repast; a bite; a luncheon. 
And so, as the cloth is laid in the little parlour above 
stairs, and it is past three o'clock, for I have been waiting 
this hour for you, and I have had a snack myself. 
Scott, Heart of Mid-Lothian, xxxviii. 
4. A portion or share of food or of other things : 
used especially in the phrase to go snacks that 
is, to share ; divide and distribute in shares. 
If the master gets the better on 't, they come in for their 
snack. Sir K. L'Estrange. 
And last he whispers, "Do ; and we go snack*." 
Pope, Prol. to Satires. 1. 06. 
snackett (suak'et), w. Same as snecket. 
snacot (snak'ot), n. [Origin obscure.] A syn- 
gnathid, pipe-fish, or sea-needle, as Syngnathm 
acus or S. peckianus. See cuts under pipe-Jish. 
snaffle (snaf'l), .. [Appar. < D. snarel, MD. 
snabel, snavel, the nose or snout of a beast or a 
fish (OFries. snavel, mouth) ; dim.of MD. snabbe, 
snebbe, MLG. snabbe, the bill or neb of a bird: 
see neb.~\ A bridle consisting of a slender bit- 
mouth with a single rein and without a curb ; 
a snaffle-bit. 
Your Monkish prohibitions, and expurgatorious indexes, 
your gags and snaffles. Milton, On Def. of Humb. Bemonst. 
snaffle (snaf'l), . ; pret. and pp. snaffled, ppr. 
snaffling. [< snaffle, n.~\ I. trans. 1. To bridle; 
hold or manage with a bridle. 
For hitherto slie writers wilie wits. 
Which haue engrossed princes chiefe affaires, 
Haue been like horses snaJKed with the bits 
Of fancie, feare, or doubts. Mir. far Mays., p. 39.1. 
2. To clutch or seize by the snaffle Snaffling 
lay, the "lay " or special occupation of a thief who stops 
horsemen by clutching the horse's snaffle. 
I thought by your look you had been a clever fellow, 
and upon the snaffling lay at least ; bat ... I find vou 
are some sneaking budge rascal. Fuldimj, Amelia, L 3. 
II. intrans. To speak 
through the nose. Halli- 
well. [Prov. Eng.] 
snaffle-bit (snaf'1-bit), n. 
A plain slender jointed 
bit for a horse. 
snaggle-toothed 
In liir riKlit hand (which lo and fro did .shake) 
She liare a *l* nil rue, V, ilh ln:ill> II k nut lie M > 
And In liir left a Kiiajltr Hit or n 
i ilh UM]<|, : muling ring. 
(iatcoiyne, I'hiloniem (Mule tilim, etc., id. Arbur\ p. 90. 
Snag 1 (snag), . [Prol). < Xnrw. miuij, mini/i . 
projecting point, a point of land, = Icel. xmiiii. 
a peg. Cf. miai/' 2 , r.J 1. AsharpprotutM lanei-; 
;i [rnijiTtiiif; point.; a jag. 
A itaffe, all full of litle magt. 
.r, K. Q., II. xl. 23. 
Sp. i-ilically 2. A short proj<-<-ting stump, 
stub, or branch ; the stubby base of a broken 
or cut-off branch or twig; a jagged brunch 
-rpHratti from the tree. 
Snag is no new word, though perhaps the Western ap- 
plication of It Is BO ; lint I lind in (Mil the proverb "A 
bird in the bag is worth two on the tnag." 
Louxll, Biglow Papers, 2d ser. Int. 
3. A tree, or part of a tree, lying in the water 
with its briuii-h.-s at or near the surface, so as 
to be dangerous to navigation. 
Unfortunately for the navigation of the Mississippi, 
some of the largest [trees], after being cast down from the 
position In which they grew, get their roots entangled 
with the bottom of the river. . . . These fixtures, called 
gnaifg or planters, are extremely dangerous to the steam- 
vessels proceeding up the stream. 
Cape. B. UaU, Travels in North America, IL 802. 
Hence 4. A hidden danger or obstacle; an 
unsuspected source or occasion of error or mis- 
take; a stumbling-block. S. A snag-tooth. 
In China none hold Women sweet 
Except their Snayyi are black as Jett. 
Prior, Alma, U. 
6. The fang or root of a tooth. 7. A branch 
or tine on the antler of a deer; a point. See cut 
under antler. 
The antler . . . often . . . sends off one or more branches 
called "tynes"or "titaijs." 
W. U. Flower, Encyc. Brit, XV. 431. 
8. pi. The fruit of the snag-bush. 
snag 1 (snag), r. (. [< snagl, n.] I. To catch 
or run upon a snag: as, to snag a fish-hook; to 
KIIIII/ a steamboat. [U. S.] 2. Figuratively, 
to entangle ; embarrass ; bring to a standstill. 
[U. S.] 
Stagnant times have been when a great mind, anchored 
In error, might mag the slow-moving current of society. 
H". Phillips, Speeches, etc., p. 38. 
3. To fill with snags ; act as a snag to. [Rare.] 
4. To clear of snags. [U. 8. and Australia.] 
Both of these parties, composed of about fifty men. are 
engaged in magging the waterways, which will he dredged 
out to form the canal. Jfew York Times, July 21, 1S89. 
snag 2 (snag), r. t. ; pret. and pp. snagged, ppr. 
snagging. [Prob. < Gael, snagair, carve, whit- 
tle, snaigh, snaidh, hew, cut down; lr. snaigh, 
a hewing, cutting; cf. also Gael, snag, a knock ; 
Ir. snag, a woodpecker. Cf. snag 1 .] To trim 
by lopping branches ; cut the branches, knots, 
or protuberances from, as the stem of a tree. 
You are one of his " lively stones" ; be content there- 
fore to be hewn and magged at, that you might be made 
the more meet to be joined to your fellows, which suffer 
with you Satan's snatches. 
J. Bradford, Letters (Parker Sac., 1853X II. US. 
snag 3 (snag), n. [< ME. snegge = MLG. snifige, 
LG. snigge, sniche = OHG. sneggo, snecco, MHG. 
siirgge, xnecke, G. schiieeke = Sw. sndcka = Dan. 
sntfeke, a snail ; from the same root as AS. snaca, 
a snake : see snail, snakr.] A snail. [Eng.] 
snag-boat (snag'bot), w. A steamboat fitted 
with an apparatus for removing snags or other 
obstacles to navigation from river-beds, fiim- 
monds. [U. S.] 
snag-bush (snag'bush), n. The blackthorn or 
sloe, Primus spinosa: so called from its snaggy 
branches. See cut under sloe. 
snag-chamber (suag'cbam'ber), n. A water- 
tight compartment made in the bow of a steam- 
er plying in snaggy waters, as a safeguard in 
case a snag is struck. Capt. B. Hall, Travels 
in North America, II. 302. 
snagged (snag'ed), n. [< gnagl + -ed^.] Full 
of snags or knots; snaggy; knotty. 
Belabouring one another with magiied sticks. 
Dr. U. More. (Imp. Diet.) 
snagger (snag'er), n. The tool with which 
snagging is done : a bill-hook without the usual 
edge on the back. Hti/liiri'l/. 
snaggle (snag'l), r. t. and i. ; pret. and pp. snag- 
i/lcil, ppr. sntu/gliiiii. [Freq. of ttnag't; perhaps 
'in this sense partly due to nn;/ 1 .] To nibble. 
snaggle-tooth (suag'l-toth), w. A tooth grow- 
ing out irregularly from the others. Halliirell. 
[Prov. Eng.J 
snaggle-toothed (snag'l-tStht), a. Having a 
snaggle-tooth or snaggle-teeth. 
