Mining. [Of obscure origin.] A kind of fuse or slow match used in blasting.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 836. Paper rubbed over with gunpowder or grease, for the smifts or fuses. Ibid., A paper smift, adjusted to burn a proper time, is then fixed to the top of the rush-tube.
1871. W. Morgans, Mining Tools, 137. A ‘smift,’ which is variously made of either a bit of touch-wood, touch-paper, greased candle-wick or paper,… is attached by a bit of grease or clay to the outside end of the train.
