Forms: 1 smeodoma, -uma (smetuma ?), smed(e)ma, smidema, 8 smedim, smeadum, 8–9 smeddum (9 -am). [OE., of obscure origin.]
1. A fine powder; esp. fine flour. (For other late examples see SMITHAM.)
c. 725. Corpus Gloss., P 497. Polenta, smeodoma.
a. 900. Leiden Gloss., 74. Simila, smetuma.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 258. ʓemin ðas wyrte butan wyrttruman, cnuca mid smedman. Ibid., II. 132. ʓenim acrinde, & driʓe, & wirc to smedman.
1808. Jamieson, Smeddum, the powder or finest part of ground malt; also called malt smeddum.
b. A powder used for medical purposes, or as a vermin-killer.
1786. Burns, To a Louse, v. O for some rank, mercurial rozet, Or fell, red smeddum.
1828. Examiner, 20 Jan., 35/1. As we cannot touch pitch without being defiled, so we cannot touch precious ointment without scenting of smeddam.
c. Mining. = SMITHAM 2.
1853. Ure, Dict. Arts (ed. 4), II. 37. ‘Undressed smeddum,’ being what has passed through the sieve of the hotching-tub. Ibid., ‘Smeddum,’ after being dressed or cleared from all foreign substances.
2. Sc. Spirit, pith, ‘go’; alertness of mind and vigor in action; energy.
1790. D. Morison, Poems, 4. He has nae smeadum.
1791. J. Learmont, Poems, 215. A guidly band Did smedim shaw on ilka strand.
1821. Galt, Ann. Parish, xxx. Lacking somewhat of that birr and smeddum that is the juice and flavour of books of that sort.
1837. R. Nicoll, Poems (1843), 129. I was fairly tongue-tied; For I had na the smeddum to chide her.
1897. Crockett, Lads’ Love, iii. He had been harmlessly expending all the pith and smeddum of his blows upon a … bolster.
