Forms: 1–3 smið, 4 smiþ, 3– smith, 5 (7) smithe; 2 smyð, 3–4 smyþ, 4–7 smyth (5 smyȝt), 5–6 smythe; 4–5 smeth, 6 Sc. smeith. [Common Teut.: OE. smið, = OFris. smeth, smid (WFris. and EFris. smid, NFris. smet, smer, smas), MDu. smit (smet), smid (Du. smid), MLG. (and LG.) smid, smed, OHG. smid, smit (MHG. smit, smid-, G. schmied, † schmid), ON. smiðr (Icel. smiður, Norw. smid; MSw. smiþer, smidher, etc., Sw. and Da. smed); Goth. smiþa (in aizasmiþa coppersmith) differs in declension. The relations of the stem are doubtful. The original sense was app. craftsman, skilled worker, in metal, wood, or other material, and this general use still remains in Icelandic.]
1. One who works in iron or other metals; esp. a blacksmith or farrier; a forger, hammerman.
Also freq. as a second element in combs., as black-, copper-, gold-, gun-, iron-, lock-, silver-, tin-, whitesmith.
In the early examples referring to Joseph, the word does not mean ‘carpenter,’ but is simply used to render L. faber.
Beowulf, 1452. Swa hine fyrndaʓum worhte wæpna smið.
c. 950. Lindisf. Gosp., Matt. xiii. 55. Ah ne ðis is smiðes vel wyrihta sunu?
c. 1000. Ælfric, Gram., xxxvi. 216. ʓyf ðu cweðst hic cudo,… ðonne byð hit nama, smið.
a. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 51. He was buhsum ane deadliche manne, Iosepe ðe smiðe.
c. 1275. Passion our Lord, 59, in O. E. Misc. Hi seyden, he is a smyþes sune, ne beo we noht his frend.
a. 1300. Cursor M., 23238. Als it war dintes on a steþi Þat smythes smittes in a smeþey.
1390. Gower, Conf., II. 159. He was a Smith With Jupiter, which in his forge Diverse thinges made him forge.
c. 1450. Merlin, xxiii. 427. The Emperour … sente to seche a smyth to bynde hym in chaynes and feteres.
1484. Caxton, Fables of Æsop, III. xii. The forge of a smythe.
1530. Palsgr., 187. A farrer or a smythe that shoeth horses.
1595. Shaks., John, IV. ii. 193. I saw a Smith stand with his hammer (thus) The whilst his Iron did on the Anuile coole.
1657. Baxter, Call to Unconverted (1669), 175. Like the Smiths dog, that is brought by custom to sleep under the noise of the hammers.
1704. F. Fuller, Med. Gymn. (1711), 49. By incessantly following his Blow, the Smith can bring Heat into his Bar of Iron.
1784. Cowper, Task, V. 219. The first smith was the first murd’rer’s son.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann. (1863), II. III. ii. 83. The excellency of the ancient Celtic smiths.
fig. 1642. Fuller, Holy & Prof. St., IV. i. 237–8. True, every man is, fortunæ suæ faber, the Smith to beat out his own fortunes.
1687. Dryden, Hind & P., III. 1268. The Doves repented, tho’ too late Become the Smiths of their own Foolish Fate.
2. In special collocations, as smith’s coal, craft, dust, water, work (see quots., sense 3, SMITHY sb. 4, and SMITH-WORK).
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. xxiii. 175. It groweth … where as there hath bene myning for Iron and *Smithes cole.
1881. Young, Every Man his own Mechanic, 649. The fuel used is fine coal generally called ‘Smith’s coal’ or ‘slack.’
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), II. 229. Tubalcain fonde first *smythes craft and grauynge.
1561. T. Norton, Calvin’s Inst., IV. 69. A man may say they haue practised smithes craft all their lyfe.
1614. Raleigh, Hist. of World, I. I. vi. § 4. Tubal and Tubalcain (inuentors of pastorage, smiths-craft, and musick).
1568–9. Sarum Church-w. Accts. (Swayne, 1896), 283. Sande and *smythes dust, 2d.
1712. J. James, trans. Le Blond’s Gardening, 33. Smiths-Dust is either the Scales beaten off at the Anvil, or Iron Filings.
1544. Phaër, Regim. Lyfe (1560), H iiij b. Julep of roses with a litle of *smiths water.
1565. Cooper, Thesaurus, Ferraria aqua, smithes water in the cole trough wher in they quench yron.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 84. Smiths water or other Metalline water.
1714. French Bk. Rates, 331. Iron-Axels, Hinges, Axes, and such like *Smiths Work.
1879. Cassell’s Techn. Educ., III. 381. Most of the smith’s work is taken by weight.
† b. Smith’s balm (see quot.). Obs. rare.
1597. Gerarde, Herball, II. ccxix. 561. Smithes Bawme, or carpenters Bawme, is most singular to heale vp green wounds…: Dioscorides and Pliny [call] … this kind of Bawme … Iron woort.
3. attrib., as smith-shop, -tool; also † smith-coal, smithy-coal; † smith-man, an iron-smelter; smith ore (see quot.); † smith-water, smithy water; † smith-wife, a female smith.
1521. Maldon Liber B. fol. 58 (MS.), Due naves onerate cum *Smythcoll.
1645–52. Boate, Irelands Nat. Hist. (1860), 124. In the place where this Mine standeth, do lie little Smith-coals above the ground.
1408. Durham Acc. Roll, in Eng. Hist. Rev., XIV. 519. In stipendio Johannis Gylle, *smythman alias blomer.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, 228. *Smith Ore.… See Brush [a rich brown hæmatite iron ore].
1899. Daily News, 17 Nov., 5/2. At last there came a deputation from the boiler-shop and *smith-shop.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. I. i. He sends for his *smith-tools.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Form., R iv. [To] be put with *smyth water … tyll it be thycke.
14[?]. Nom., in Wr.-Wülcker, 692. Hec fabrissa, a *smyth wyfe.
