GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 4 definitions

  1.       
    
    Smell , 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. Smell, 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.
      1913 Webster
    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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      To smell a rat, to have a sense of something wrong, not clearly evident; to have reason for suspicion. [Colloq.] -- To smell out, to find out by sagacity. [Colloq.]

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  2.       
    
    Smelt , imp. & p. p. of Smell.
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  3.       
    
    Smelt, n. [AS. smelt, smylt; akin to Dan. smelt.]
    1. (Zool.) 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 (Osmerus mordax), the California smelt (Osmerus 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 silversides.

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    2. Fig.: A gull; a simpleton. [Obs.]
      Beau. & Fl.

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      Sand smelt (Zool.), the silverside.

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  4.       
    
    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. Enamel, Melt, Mute, v. i., Smalt.] (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.
    1913 Webster

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