ppl. a. Now north. dial. and Sc. [f. SMIT v.] Infectious; contagious.

1

1562.  Turner, Baths, 2. If he be sieke in a smitting or infective disease.

2

1595.  Duncan, App. Etym. (E. D. S.), Contagio, an infection or smitting-sicknes.

3

1671.  Skinner, Etymol. Ling. Angl., X xx b/1. Smiting, pro Contagious, Infectious, vox agro Linc. usitatissima.

4

1788.  W. H. Marshall, Yorksh., II. 353. Smitting; infectious; catching, as a disease.

5

1858–61.  E. B. Ramsay, Remin., v. (1870), 118. Gantin’ may be smittin’.

6

1892.  M. C. F. Morris, Yorks. Folk-Talk, 73. But she did not think the complaint was smitting.

7