[f. SMITE v.]
1. The action of the verb; beating, striking. Also fig.
c. 1330. Arth. & Merl., 8874 (Kölbing). Wiþ smiteing & wiþ skirminge.
1382. Wyclif, 1 Macc. xv. 6. Y suffre thee for to make smytyng, or printe, of thin own money.
a. 1425. trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc. 51. Þe skyn was noȝt cleuen alsone after þe smytyng.
c. 1491. Caxton, Chast. Goddes Chyld., 74. Say thries this verse with smyting on the brest.
1560. Bible (Geneva), 1 Kings xx. 37. The man smote him, and in smiting wounded him.
1660. J. Taylor, Worthy Commun., i. iii. 55. It was not that smiting that beat the Syrians.
1694. Kettlewell, Comp. Penitent, 111. Father, let thy smiteing reclaim and amend me.
1820. Scott, Monast., xxxv. It is but the smiting of an Egyptian when all is said out.
1842. Manning, Serm., ii. (1848), 29. Who does not feel within the smiting of conscience.
1887. Athenæum, 26 March, 417/3. It is not everybody … who could take such friendly smiting in this spirit.
attrib. 1653. R. Sanders, Physiogn., 188. The inflammation and smiting pain of the head.
b. With a and pl. An instance of this.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Last Age Ch. (1840), 32. Smyttingis to-gidere of folkis and hurtlynge to gidere of rewmes.
a. 1483. Cath. Angl., 346/2. A Smytyng, iccio, percussio.
1615. Hieron, Wks., I. 598. No doubt our hearts would smite vs herein,… and happy should such secret smitings be.
1656. Artif. Handsom., 131. Least they be … severe beyond Gods smitings.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. III. v. Accelerated … by smitings, twitchings,—spurnings.
1860. Patmore, Faithful for Ever, I. vii. In smitings as of silver bars.
2. Smiting-line (see quots.).
a. 1625. Nomenclator Navalis (Harl. MS. 2301), s.v., [The] Smitting-line is a small Roape which is made fast to the Missen yard arms.
1627. Capt. Smith, Seaman’s Gram., v. 22. The missen hath but one [furling-line] called the smiting line.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Smiting-line. A line by which a yarn-stoppered sail is loosed, without sending men aloft. If well executed, marks the seaman.
