Online Etymology Dictionary

small: O.E. smæl "slender, narrow, small," from P.Gmc. *smalaz (cf. O.S., Dan., Swed., M.Du., Du., O.H.G. smal, O.Fris. smel, Ger. schmal "narrow," Goth. smalista "smallest," O.N. smali "small cattle, sheep"), perhaps from a PIE base *(s)melo- "smaller animal" (cf. Gk. melon, O.Ir. mil "a small animal;" O.C.S. malu "bad"). Original sense of "narrow" now almost obsolete, except in reference to waistline and intestines.
"My sister ... is as white as a lilly, and as small as a wand." [Shakespeare, "Two Gentlemen of Verona," 1591]
Sense of "not large, of little size" developed in O.E. With many extended senses, e.g. small fry, first recorded 1690s of little fish, 1885 of insignificant people. Small potatoes first attested 1940; small change "something of little value" is from 1902; small talk "chit-chat" (1751) first recorded in Chesterfield's "Letters." Small world as a comment upon an unexpected meeting of acquaintances is recorded from 1895. Small-town (adj.) "unsophisticated, provincial" is recorded from 1824. Small arms, indicating those capable of being carried in the hand (contrasted to ordnance) is recorded from 1710.
small beer: 1560s, originally "weak beer;" used figuratively of small things or trifling matters. Small with the meaning "of low alcoholic content" is attested from mid-15c.
small-time (adj.): 1910, originally theater slang for lower-salaried circuits, or ones requiring more daily performances.
smallpox: 1518, small pokkes, as distinguished from great pox "syphillis" (see pox). Cf. Fr. petite vérole.
smarmy: "ingratiating, unctuous," 1924, from smarm "to behave in a flattering way" (1920), variant of colloquial smalm, smawm (1847) "to smear, bedaub" (the hair, with pomade) of unknown origin.
smart (v.): O.E. smeortan "be painful," from W.Gmc. *smert- (cf. M.Du. smerten, Du. smarten, O.H.G. smerzan, Ger. schmerzen "to pain," originally "to bite"), from PIE base *(s)merd-, from base *(s)mer- "to rub, pound" (cf. Gk. smerdnos "terrible, dreadful," Skt. mardayati "grinds, rubs, crushes," L. mordere to bite").
smart (adj.): late O.E. smeart "sharp, severe, stinging," related to smeortan (see smart (v.)). Meaning "quick, active, clever" is attested from c.1300, probably from the notion of "cutting" wit, words, etc.; meaning "trim in attire" first attested 1718, "ascending from the kitchen to the drawing-room c.1880." [Weekley] In ref. to devices, "behaving as though guided by intelligence" (e.g. smart bomb) first attested 1972. Smarts "good sense, intelligence," is first recorded 1968. Smart aleck is from 1865, perhaps in allusion to Aleck Hoag, notorious pimp, thief, and confidence man in New York City in early 1840s. Smart cookie is from 1948; smarty-pants first attested 1941.
smart money: "money bet by those in the know," 1926, from smart (adj.). The same phrase earlier meant "money paid to sailors, soldiers, workers, etc., who have been disabled while on the job" (1693), from a noun derivative of smart (v.).
smarten: "to make smart, to spruce up, to improve appearance," 1815 (in "Emma"), from smart (adj.).
smartmouth (n.): 1968, from smart (adj.) + mouth.
smash (v.): 1778, "break to pieces," earlier "kick downstairs" (c.1700), probably of imitative origin (cf. smack, mash). Smashed "drunk" is slang from 1962. Smash-up "collision" is recorded from 1856; smash-and-grab is first attested 1927. Smashing "pleasing, sensational" is from 1911.
smash (n.): 1839, "failure, financial collapse," from smash (v.). Tennis sense is from 1882. Meaning "great success" is from 1923 ("Variety" headline, Oct. 16, in ref. to Broadway productions of "The Fool" and "The Rise of Rosie O'Reilly").
smatter: c.1410, "talk idly, chatter," perhaps imitative. Similar forms are found in M.H.G. smetern "to chatter" and Swed. smattra "to patter, rattle." Smatterer "one who has superficial knowledge" is attested from c.1519.
smear (v.): O.E. smerian "to anoint or rub with grease, oil, etc.," from P.Gmc. *smerthan (cf. O.N. smyrva, Dan. smøre, Swed. smörja, Du. smeren, O.H.G. smirwen, Ger. schmieren "to smear"), from PIE *smeru- "grease" (cf. Gk. myron "unguent, balsam," O.Ir. smi(u)r "marrow," O.E. smeoru "fat, grease"). Sense of "assault a public reputation with unsubstantiated charges" is from 1879. Noun meaning "mark or stain left by smearing" is first recorded 1611; sense of "small quantity prepared for microscopic examination" is from 1903.
smegma: 1819, from L., from Gk. smegma "a detergent," from smekhein "to wipe off, wipe clean, cleanse," from PIE base *(s)mei- "to rub" (cf. Czech smetana "cream").
smell (v.): c.1175, "emit or perceive an odor," also n., "odor, aroma, stench," not found in O.E., perhaps cognate with M.Du. smolen, Low Ger. smelen "to smolder" (see smolder). OED says "no doubt of O.E. origin, but not recorded, and not represented in any of the cognate languages." Ousted O.E. stenc (see stench) in most senses. Someone should revive smell-feast (n.) "one who scents out where free food is to be had" (1519, "very common" c.1540-1700, OED) and smell-smock "licentious man" (c.1550-1900). To smell a rat "be suspicious" is from 1550.
smelt (v.): 1455 (implied in smelter), from Du. or Low Ger. smelten, cognate with O.H.G. smelzan, Ger. schmelzen "to melt;" apparently a variant of the stem of O.E. meltan "to melt" (see melt).
smelt (n.): O.E. smelt "small salmon-like sea fish," cognate with Du. smelt "sand eel," Dan. smelt (c.1600). OED notes that it has a peculiar odor (but doesn't suggest a connection with smell); Klein suggests a connection with the way the fish melts in one's mouth.
SMERSH: Soviet Army counter-espionage organization begun during World War II, 1953, from Rus. abbrev. of smert' shpionam "death to spies." Introduced in Eng. by Ian Flemming.
smidgen: 1845, perhaps from Scot. smitch "very small amount, small insignificant person" (1822), perhaps from smidin "small syllable." Short form smidge is attested from 1905, Amer.Eng. dial.
smile (v.): c.1300, perhaps from M.L.G. *smilen or a Scand. source (e.g. Dan. smile, Swed. smila "smile"), from PIE base *smei- (cf. O.E. smerian "to laugh at," O.H.G. smieron "to smile," L. mirus "wonderful"). Gradually pushed the usual O.E. word, smearcian (modern smirk), into a specific, unpleasant sense. The noun is from 1562. Romance, Celtic, and Slavic languages tend to use a dim. of the word for "laugh" to mean "smile" (cf. L. ridere "laugh;" subridere "smile"), with perhaps a literal notion of "small laugh," or "low laugh."
smirch: 1495, "to discolor, to make dirty," perhaps from O.Fr. esmorcher "to torture," perhaps also "befoul, stain," from es- "out" + morcher "to bite," from L. morsus, pp. of mordere "to bite" (see smart (v.)). Sense of "dishonor, disgrace, discredit" first attested 1820.
smirk (v.): O.E. smearcian "to smile." No exact cognates in other languages, but perhaps related to smerian "to laugh at" (see smile (v.)). The noun is first recorded c.1560.
Smirnoff: proprietary name of a brand of vodka, said to have been in use since 1914.
smite: O.E. smitan "to hit, strike, beat" (strong verb, pt. smat, pp. smiten), from P.Gmc. *smitanan (cf. Swed. smita, Dan. smide "to smear, fling," O.Fris. smita, M.L.G., M.Du. smiten "to cast, fling," Du. smijten "to throw," O.H.G. smizan "to rub, strike," Ger. schmeißen "to cast, fling," Goth. bismeitan "to spread, smear"), perhaps from PIE base *(s)mei- "to smear, to rub," but original sense in Gmc. seems to be of throwing. Sense of "slay in combat" (c.1300) is originally Biblical, smite to death, first attested c.1200.
smith: O.E. smið "one who works in metal" (jewelers as well as blacksmiths), from P.Gmc. *smithaz "skilled worker" (cf. O.S. smith, O.N. smiðr, Dan. smed, O.Fris. smith, O.H.G. smid, Ger. Schmied, Goth. -smiþa, in aiza-smiþa "coppersmith"), from PIE base *smei- "to carve, cut" (cf. Gk. smile "knife, chisel"). Attested as a surname since at least c.975. Smithy is from O.E. smiððe, from P.Gmc. *smithjon.
Smith & Wesson: prop. name of a type of firearm, 1860, from the gunsmith firm of Horace Smith (1808-93) and Daniel B. Wesson (1825-1906) in Springfield, Massachusetts.
smithereens: "fragments," 1829, from Ir. smidirin, dim. of smiodar "fragment," perhaps with dim. ending as in Colleen.
Smithfield: place in London, celebrated since at least 17c. as a market for cattle and horses, later the central meat market. In various colloquial expressions. Originally Smethefield, from O.E. smethe "smooth." Smithfield ham (1908, Amer.Eng.) is from a town of that name in Virginia.
Smithsonian: "Smithsonian Institute," named for founder James Smithson (1765-1829).
smitten: mid-13c., pp. of smite. Sense of "inspired with love" is from 1660s.
smock: O.E. smoc "woman's garment," from P.Gmc. *smukkaz (cf. O.N. smokkr, but this is perhaps from O.E., O.H.G. smoccho "smock," a rare word, N.Fris. smok, but this, too, perhaps from Eng.), from PIE base *smeugh- "to press" (cf. O.C.S. smykati se "to creep"). Original notion seems to be "garment one creeps into," as the word is related to O.N. smjuga "to creep into (a garment)" and O.E. smugan "to creep" and smygel "a burrow." Cf. also Ger. schmiegen "to cling to, to press close, nestle," hence M.H.G. verb smucken, Ger. schmucken "to adorn." Eng. smock was common down to 18c., and was emblematic of womanhood generally, cf. verb smock "to render (a man) effeminate or womanish" (1614); smock-face "person having a pale, effeminate face" (1605). Replaced by euphemistic shift (n.2). Modern meaning "woman's or child's loose dress or blouse" is from 1907; sense of "loose garment worn by artists over other clothes" is from 1938.
smog: 1905, blend of smoke and fog, formed "after Lewis Carrol's example" [Klein; see portmanteau]. Reputedly coined in ref. to London, and first attested there in a paper read by Dr. H.A. des Voeux, treasurer of the Coal Smoke Abatement Society, though he seems not to have claimed credit for coining it.
smoke (n.1): late O.E. smoca, related to smeocan "give off smoke," from P.Gmc. *smeukanan (cf. M.Du. smooc, Du. smook, M.H.G. smouch, Ger. Schmauch), from PIE base *smeug(h)- "to smoke" (cf. Arm. mux "smoke," Gk. smykhein "to burn with smoldering flame," O.Ir. much, Welsh mwg "smoke"). Smokestack is from 1862; smoke-eater "firefighter" is c.1930. Phrase go up in smoke "be destroyed" is from 1933. smoke alarm first attested 1936.
smoke (v.): O.E. smocian "to produce smoke," see smoke (n.). Meaning "to drive out or away or into the open by means of smoke" is attested from 1593. Meaning "to cure (bacon, fish, etc.) by exposure to smoke" is first attested 1599. In connection with tobacco, the verb is first recorded 1604 in James I's "Counterblast to Tobacco." Smoking gun in figurative sense of "incontestable evidence" is from 1974.
smoke (n.2): "cigarette," slang, 1882, from smoke (n.1). Also "opium" (1884). Meaning "a spell of smoking tobacco" is recorded from 1835.
smoke screen: 1915, as a form of military camouflage, from smoke (n.1); 1926 in the fig. sense. The association of smoke with "deception, deliberate obscurity" dates back to at least 1565.
Smokey Bear: "state policeman," 1974, from truckers' slang, in ref. to the wide-brim style of hat worn by state troopers.
smolder: c.1300 (implied in smoldering), "to smother, suffocate," cognate with M.Du. smolen, Low Ger. smelen, Flem. smoel "hot," from P.Gmc. *smel-, *smul-. The meaning "burn and smoke without flame" is first recorded 1529, fell from use 17c. (though smoldering persisted in poetry) and was revived 19c.
smooch: 1932 (v.); 1942 (n.), alteration of dialectal verb smouch (1578), possibly imitative of the sound of kissing (cf. Ger. dial. schmutzen "to kiss").
smooth: O.E. smoð "free from roughness, not harsh," of unknown origin. Sense of "pleasant, polite, sincere" first recorded c.1390. Slang meaning "superior, classy, clever" is attested from 1893. The verb is first recorded c.1440. Smooth-bore in ref. to guns is from 1812. smooth talk (v.) is recorded from 1950. A 1599 dictionary has smoothboots "a flatterer, a faire spoken man, a cunning tongued fellow." The usual O.E. form was smeðe, and there is a dial. smeeth found in places names, e.g. Smithfield, Smedley.
smorgasbord: 1893, from Swed. smörgåsbord "open sandwich table," lit. "butter-goose table," from smörgås, which is said to mean "bread and butter," but is compounded from smör "butter" (related to smear) and gås, lit. "goose" (and from the root of Eng. goose), which is said to have a secondary meaning of "a clump(of butter)." The final element is bord "table" (cf. board (n.1)). Fig. sense of "medley, miscellany" is recorded from 1948.
smote: p.t. of smite (q.v.).
smother: c.1200, "to suffocate with smoke," from smorthre (n.) "dense, suffocating smoke" (c.1175), from stem of O.E. smorian "to suffocate, choke," possibly connected to smolder. Meaning "to kill by suffocation" is from 1548; sense of "to extinguish a fire" is from 1591. Sense of "stifle, repress" is first recorded 1579; meaning "to cover thickly (with some substance)" is from 1598.
smoulder: see smolder.
smudge: c.1430, smogen "to soil, stain, blacken," of obscure origin. The noun is first attested 1768, from the verb.
smug: 1551, "trim, neat, spruce, smart," possibly an alteration of Low Ger. smuk "trim, neat," from M.L.G. smücken "to adorn," and smiegen "to press close" (see smock). The meaning "having a self-satisfied air" is from 1701, an extension of the sense of "smooth, sleek" (1582), which was commonly used of attractive women and girls.
smuggler: 1661, from Low Ger. smuggeln or Du. smokkelen "to transport (goods) illegally," apparently a frequentative formation of a word meaning "to sneak" (from P.Gmc. *smuganan) and related to smock (q.v.).
smut (n.): 1664, "black mark, stain," from verb smutten "debase, defile" (early 15c.), cognate with M.H.G. smotzen "make dirty," from W.Gmc. *smutt- (cf. M.H.G. smuz "grease, dirt," Ger. Schmutz "dirt," Ger. schmutzen "to make dirty"). The meaning "indecent or obscene language" is first attested 1668 (implied in smutty).
smutch (v.): 1611, variant of smudge (q.v.).