Now dial. Forms: 1–2 smec, 2–4 smech, 3–4. smeche, 9 smeech, smeach. [OE. sméc, variant of smíc, smýc (see SMITCH sb.), from the stem of sméocan SMEEK v. For the equivalent northern forms see SMEEK sb.] Smoke; dense or thick vapor, etc. Also in fig. context.

1

  Also in mod. south-western dial. ‘fine dust,’ ‘stench,’ etc.: see the Eng. Dial. Dict.

2

  c. 825.  Vesp. Hymns, xii. 11. Clæne ʓeleafa coelende slepes smec ʓemetʓie.

3

c. 888.  K. Ælfred, Boeth., xxvii. § 3. Hi losiað swa swa sceadu oððe smec.

4

c. 1000.  Ags. Ps. (Thorpe), ci. 3. Daʓas mine ʓedroren syndan, smece ʓelice.

5

a. 1200.  Moral Ode, in O. E. Hom., I. 177. Eure þer is vuel smech, þusternesse and eie.

6

c. 1250.  Old Kent. Serm., in O. E. Misc., 28. We mowe sigge þet stor signefieth þe herte, and se smech luue of gode.

7

c. 1315.  Shoreham, III. 192. Þou ert a sot, and myȝt do bet, And so siȝst yn þe smeche.

8

1340.  Ayenb., 66. Al alsuo huanne me alyȝt þet uer, lhapþ þet smech efter þe layt.

9

  1847.  Halliw., Smeech,… obscurity in the air, arising from smoke, fog, or dust. South and West.

10

1876.  M. G. Pearse, Daniel Quorm, 38. A faggot o’ green furze ’pon the fire…. Fillin’ the house with smeach and smoke.

11

1886.  Elworthy, W. Somerset Word-bk., 684. Your bakehouse chimley do make such a smeech.

12