Forms: α. 3–5 smellen (5 -yn), 3 smeallen; 2–6 smelle, 4–7 smel, 4– smell. Pa. t. 4–6 smelde (4 smeld), 5– smelled (6 Sc. smellit), 6– smelt. Pa. pple. 3 i-smelled, 3, 6– smelled, 5 -id, 7– smelt. β. 2–4 smullen, 4 smille, 4–5 smylle. Pa. t. 4 smulde, smilde. [Early ME. smellen and smüllen, no doubt of OE. origin, but not recorded, and not represented in any of the cognate languages.
In the pa. t. and pa. pple. both smelled and smelt are in use, but the latter is now the more frequent of the two.]
I. trans. 1. To have perception of (an object, odor, etc.) by means of the olfactory sense.
To smell powder: see POWDER sb.1 3 b. To smell a rat: see RAT sb.1 2 a.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 153. Hwenne þe nose bið open to smelle unlofne breð.
a. 1240. Ureisun, in O. E. Hom., I. 189. Of al þet ich abbe … wið neose ismelled.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23456 (Edin.). In þis lif hauis man gret liking … Swet speceri to thef and smel.
c. 1350. Leg. Rood (1871), 57. Anon þer com so swete a smul … Þat al hit smulde wiþ gret Ioye þat in þe cuntre weren þere.
c. 1489. Caxton, Sonnes of Aymon, xvi. 372. Whan mawgis had passed over the water bayard smelled hym & began to crye.
1509. Hawes, Past. Pleas., XXIV. (Percy Soc.), 109. The nose, also, every ayre doth smel.
1589. Nashe, M. Marprelate, Wks. (Grosart), I. 80. As good a Hound for his sent to smell a feast as euer man sawe.
1611. Bible, Tobit viii. 3. The which smell, when the euill spirit had smelled, hee fled into the outmost part of Egypt, and the Angel bound him.
1691. trans. Emilianne’s Observ. Journ. Naples, 89. The Mole, it seems,… no sooner had smelt the Oar, but crept into another Hole near to it.
1779. G. Keate, Sketches fr. Nat., II. 209. Paris may be smelt five miles before you arrive at it—Madrid, ten.
1784. Cowper, Tiroc., 830. Civeted fellows, smelt ere they are seen.
1833. M. Scott, Tom Cringle, iii. A boy, who had seldom smelt powder fired in anger before.
1860. Dickens, Uncomm. Trav., xvii. I can smell the heavy resinous incense as I pass the church.
b. To inhale the odor or scent of (a thing); to sniff at; to examine in this way.
1830. G. Cruikshank, Gentl. in Black, i. (1831), 5. ‘Confound this head-ache.’… ‘Pshaw! pshaw! smell this bottle,’ said the stranger.
1845. Encycl. Metrop., XXV. 241/1. To smell each other’s head or neck is the only mode of salutation practised.
1886. C. E. Pascoe, Lond. of To-day, xl. (ed. 3), 343. They import from Paris flowers so natural that one is tempted to smell them.
2. To perceive as if by smell; esp. to detect, discern or discover by natural shrewdness, sagacity or instinct; to suspect, to have an inkling of, to divine.
To smell the ground, of ships: see GROUND sb. 2 b.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 216. Men schullen in spirit smelle þe swettenesse & þe holynesse of iesu crist & his lif. Ibid. (1382), Job xxxix. 25. Aferr he smellith bataile.
a. 1548. Hall, Chron., Hen. VI., 136 b. He secretly smelled, that some men priuely disdained his aduancement.
a. 1553. Udall, Royster D., II. iii. (Arb.), 34. If I beginne first, he will smell all my purpose.
1635. Pagitt, Christianogr., II. vi. (1636), 61. Lest the Lay people should smell their Idolatrie.
1668. Pepys, Diary, 30 Aug. Lord Brouncker,… I perceive, and the rest, do smell that it comes from me, but dare not find fault with me.
1712. Arbuthnot, John Bull (1727), 56. We were overjoyed … not smelling what was at bottom of the plot.
1798. Wolcot (P. Pindar), Tales of the Hoy, Wks. 1812, IV. 408. The people never smelt the cheat.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. III. vii. A victorious Parlement smells new danger.
1885. A. B. Ellis, W. African Isl., xi. 267. The reverend father at once smelt a miracle.
3. To search or find out by, or as by, the sense of smell. Chiefly fig.
1538. Bale, Thre Lawes, III. And hast thou so longe dyssembled thus with me. Infidelitas. Yea, for aduauntage, to smell out your subtylyte.
1579. E. K., Gloss. to Spenser’s Sheph. Cal., June, 25. They woulde … smell out the vntruth.
1629. Wadsworth, Sp. Pilgr., viii. 84. Smelling vs out to be English, [they] made vs rise out of our beds.
1688. S. Penton, Guardian’s Instr. (1897), 29. Humility and want of Learning (which Children are apt to smell out).
1756. Mrs. Calderwood, Jrnl. (1884), 339. The Scots folks have an excellent nose to smell out their Countryfolks.
1811. Sporting Mag., XXXVII. 76. To smell out a little bargain.
1821. Scott, Kenilw., xxvii. I never smell out a secret, but I try to be either at the right or the wrong end of it.
1892. Rider Haggard, Nada, 12. A rich man … had lost some cattle, and came with gifts to Noma, praying him to smell them out.
4. To distinguish (one thing from another) by the smell. Chiefly fig.
1582. in Scoones, Four C. Eng. Lett., 39. I know your L. will soone smell deuises from simplicity, trueth from trecherie.
a. 1592. Greene, Jas. IV., I. ii. I can smell a knave from a rat.
1829. Landor, Imag. Conv., Wks. 1853, II. 7/2. The judges there can smell silver from gold through a Russia-leather portmanteau.
5. To find or make (one’s way) by the sense of smell. Also fig.
1605. Shaks., Lear, III. vii. 93. Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell His way to Douer.
1838. T. Mitchell, Clouds of Aristoph., 82. He and his school were provided with noses, which smelt their way into sources of knowledge.
II. intr. 6. To exercise, employ, make use of, the sense of smell in relation to a specified object. Const. at, of (now U.S.), † on, or to († unto).
The const. to is by far the most frequent down to the 19th cent., during which at has become usual.
(a) c. 1200. Trin. Coll. Hom., 35. Mid þe nose þarto te smullen.
a. 1366[?]. Chaucer, Rom. Rose, 1669. To pulle a rose of al that route … And smellen to it wher I wente.
1477. Norton, Ordin. Alch., v. in Ashm. (1652), 71.
| It is not wholsome to smell to some Cole, | |
| For quenching of some Snuffe a Mare woll cast her Foale. |
1545. Raynold, Byrth Mankynde, 132. Let the chyld smell to rue, and to asafetida.
1586. B. Young, trans. Guazzo’s Civ. Conv., IV. 191 b. Lord William,… in taking of the Cup, did smell to the wine.
1607. Markham, Caval., II. 32. This Saddle when you first present to the Horse, let him smell to it.
1670. J. Smith, Eng. Improv. Reviv’d, 213. The Root smelled unto is good for the same purpose.
1757. W. Thompson, R. N. Advoc., 20. Dogs … would not even smell to it?
1803. Beddoes, Hygëia, IX. 99. The patient drank tea … and smelt to a tuberose.
1890. O. Crawfurd, Round the Calendar in Portugal, 147. Their flowers can be plucked or smelled to without bending the back.
(b) 1530. Palsgr., 722/2. Smell at my coller, and you shall parceyve whether it be I that stynke or nat.
1644. Digby, Nat. Bodies, xxxviii. § 5. 333. If the smell do please it, the beast will alwayes be smelling at it.
1704. N. N., trans. Boccalini’s Advts. fr. Parnass., III. 280. He did some of his Priests … smell at the French-men’s Hands.
1743. Francis, trans. Horace, Odes, V. vi. 10. II. 303.
| But You, when with your hideous Yelling | |
| You fill the Grove, at Crusts are smelling. |
1836. Landor, Pericles & Aspasia, cxxxi. Wks. 1853, II. 406/2. She smells at it and turns away.
1863. Reade, Hard Cash, III. 115. She smelt at her salts, and soon recovered that weakness.
(c) 1624. Quarles, Sion’s Sonn., xv. 4. When I smelt of my returned hand.
1815. Mrs. Inchbald, Child of Nature, I. iii. Here—smell of this bottle—it will do you good.
1852. Mrs. Stowe, Uncle Tom’s C., I. xv. 224. She recommended to him to smell of hartshorn.
1852. G. W. Curtis, Lotos-eating, 3. I have not yet done … smelling of all the flowers.
(d) 1626. J. Yates, Ibis ad Cæsarem, II. 77. Error is the weed we so much smell on.
1684. Bunyan, Pilg., II. 25. Fetch something, and give it Mercie to smell on, thereby to stay her fainting.
1707. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), I. 207. To which hole they bring the Mare for the Horse to smell on.
1784. New Spectator, No. 3. 3. Having examined and smelled on the leaves, she was satisfied.
† b. fig. To take or get a slight touch or taste of, to pay some slight attention to, a thing. Obs.
(a) 1553. T. Wilson, Rhet. (1580), 165. The unlearned or foolishe phantasticall, that smelles but of learnyng.
1583. Stocker, Civ. Warres Lowe C., II. 46 b. Not without his great domage, which hee shall both feele, and smell of againe.
1600. ? Webster, Weakest goeth to Wall, G iij b. And dogs keepe out of the Chauncell, ye shall smell of the whip else.
(b) c. 1580. J. Hooker, Life Sir P. Carew, in Archæologia, XXVIII. 98. He in noe wise coulde frame the younge Peter to smell to a bo[o]cke.
1653. Gauden, Hierasp., 152. Were there never so sweet … flowers gathered,… these supercilious novellers will not vouchsafe to smell to them.
7. Without const. To possess or exercise the sense of smell; to be able to perceive odors, or to be engaged in doing this. Also fig.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter cxiii. 6. Nese-thirles þai haue, and smel sal noght.
a. 1325. Prose Psalter cxv. 6. Hij ne shul nouȝt smullen.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 87. Ere and yhe and nase and mouth, Wherof a man mai hiere and se And smelle and taste in his degre.
a. 1500. Adrian & Epotys, 68, in Brome Bk., 27. The joy [of heaven] may no tonge telle, Tyll domys day thow be woll smell.
1579. Lyly, Euphues (Arb.), 153. Doth not the Lyon for strength … excell Man? Doth not … the Vulter smel better.
1607. Shaks., Timon, IV. iii. 160. Downe with the Nose … Of him, that his particular to foresee, Smels from the generall weale.
1667. Milton, P. L., V. 411. Every lower facultie Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, II. i. 25. Two Rats … ran smelling backwards and forwards on the Bed.
1834. Lady Granville, Lett. (1894), I. 283. We walked and smelt for half an hour.
1898. Daily News, 23 July, 6/2. It will be the object of this Committee … to go smelling in Shoreditch.
III. 8. intr. To give out, send forth, or exhale an odor; to have a smell, scent, etc.
c. 1175. Lamb. Hom., 53. He … bret hine [the cheese] for þon þet he scolde swote smelle.
c. 1220. Bestiary, 751, in O. E. Misc. Al ðat eure smelleð swete.
a. 1225. Leg. Kath., 1526. Mi swete lif, se swoteliche he smecheð me & smealleð.
c. 1310. in Wright, Lyric P., xxx. 88. Hire erbes smulleth suete.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Miller’s T., 505. He cheweth greyn and lycorys To smellen sweete.
c. 1440. Pallad. on Husb., XII. 514. Chaunge hit ofte vntil hit better smylle.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. xx. Hit smelleth lyke bame.
1530. Palsgr., 722/2. Take away this fysshe, it smelleth nat very well.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. (1568), 126. Sage is a long bushe,… smellinge wounderfully.
1610. Shaks., Temp., II. ii. 26. Hee smels like a fish.
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 319. Herbs of every leaf, that … made gay Her bosom smelling sweet.
1726. Swift, Gulliver, IV. viii. 119. I observed the young Animal’s Flesh to smell very rank.
1806. Med. Jrnl., XV. 486. The whole matter smelt very sour as it was dug.
1842. Parnell, Chem. Anal. (1845), 294. A combustible gas, smelling like bisulphuret of carbon.
1885. Hornaday, 2 Yrs. in Jungle, xxvi. 304. It smelled like sulphuretted hydrogen.
b. spec. To give out an offensive odor; to stink.
c. 1375. Cursor M., 14322 (Fairf.). He smellis, for iiij. dayes ar gane syn he was lokin vnder a stane.
1584. Cogan, Haven Health, 263. When the Waters and feelds smoke and smell.
1608. D. T[uvill], Ess. Pol. & Mor., 80. Beeing told that his breath did smell, answered, that it was by reason of the many secrets, which had a long time layne rotting, and putrifying within him.
1684. Contempl. State Man, I. iv. (1699), 35. If he reach old Age … his Breath smells.
c. fig.
1377. Langl., P. Pl., B. XI. 426. Þere smit no þinge so smerte, ne smelleth so soure, As shame.
1579–80. North, Plutarch, Artaxerxes (1896), VI. 112. Me thinketh this smelleth like a lye.
1602. Shaks., Ham., III. iii. 36. Oh my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen.
1820. Shelley, Prometh. Unb., I. 339. The hope of torturing him smells like a heap Of corpses, to a death-bird after battle.
[a. 1862. Buckle, Civiliz. (1869), III. iii. 157. That corrupt and tyrannical dynasty whose offences smelt to heaven.]
9. To exhale or emit the odor of, to have the smell of, something. Also rarely on (now dial.).
(a). 1526. [cf. b].
1560. Bible (Geneva), Ps. xlv. 8. All thy garments smell of myrthe and aloes, and cassia.
1599. Davies, Immort. Soul, XVII. ii. (1714), 72. They smell best, that do of nothing smell.
1662. J. Davies, trans. Mandelslo’s Trav., 94. They gave him a bottle that smelt of Oyle.
1711. W. King, trans. Naude’s Ref. Politics, iii. 109. The answer of a peasant to King Henry, that The pouch will always smell of the herring.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 443. Calcined until it no longer smelled of arsenic.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, xxxi. One of the … men already smells of sherry.
1855. Tennyson, Maud, I. VI. vi. That oil’d and curl’d Assyrian Bull Smelling of musk and of insolence.
(b) 1567. Drant, Horace, Ep., I. xix. F vij. All nighte to sprall and stryue with wyne, all day on it to smell [L. putēre].
1758. Binnell, Descr. Thames, 179. Its observable that he is thought by some to feed on Water-Thyme, and that he smells on it, at his first being taken out of the Water.
b. To have or exhibit a touch, tinge or suggestion of something.
1526. Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W., 1531), 77 b. Not for … promocyon or other profyte,… for all these smelleth of ypocrisy.
1576. Fleming, Panopl. Epist., 3, marg. He supposeth that both their victories will smell of crueltie.
1649. Milton, Eikon., xxvi. Wks. 1851, III. 503. But praises in an enemy are superfluous, or smell of craft.
1671. J. Davies, Sibylls, II. xxiv. 137. That the Relation of his Adventures smell (as much as may be) of a Romance.
1741. Berkeley, Wks. (1871), IV. 270. Most modern writings smell of the age.
1756. Law, Lett. Important Subj., 115. Such a free way of speaking … of my own books may have been suspected of smelling too much of self-esteem.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., III. I. i. Some … seem to hint afar off at something which smells of Agrarian law.
1887. Spectator, 17 Sept., 1241. Proposals smelling of confiscation.
c. Of literary work, in the phrases to smell of the candle, lamp, oil, etc., to show signs of being labored and artificial.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 333 b. Pythias obiected to Demosthenes that his argumentes of rhetorike smelled all of the candle.
1579. [see LAMP sb.1 1 b].
1616. Hieron, Wks., I. 586. It is an honour to a sermon, when (as the saying is) it shall smell of the candle.
1625. B. Jonson, Staple of N., Prol. (for the Court), A work not smelling of the lamp.
1650, 1675. [see OIL sb.1 3 d].
1732, 1768. [see LAMP sb.1 1 b].
1839. Hallam, Hist. Lit., III. vii. § 17. Even his letters to his sister, smell too much of the lamp.
1871. Lowell, Study Windows (1886), 282. His sentences … smell of the library.
10. trans. To have or emit a smell of (something).
c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. XLV. iv. Mirrh, Aloes, Cassia, all thy robes doe smell.
1598. Shaks., Merry W., III. ii. 70. He smels April and May. Ibid. (1603), Meas. for M., III. ii. 194. She smelt browne-bread and Garlicke.
1854. Thackeray, Wolves & the Lamb, Wks. 1899, XII. 16. There’s … crumbs on your cheek, and you smell sherry, sir!
11. colloq. To cause to smell; to fill or affect with an (offensive) odor.
1887. Aberd. Evening. Express, 5 Sept., 2/6. Parts [of a whale] which are still in such a condition that they would smell the whole museum.
