? Obs. Also smie. [Of obscure origin.] A small fish (see quots.).
1552. Elyot, Dict., s.v. Aphya, In Essex is a fishe called a Smie, whiche if he be longe kept, will turne to water.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. 265. The Apuæ, which are the groundlings and Smies, [come] of the fome of the sea set in an heat & chafed after some good shewer.
1611. Cotgr., Melette, a very small, soft, and fat sea-fish, bred of raine, and water, and called the Smie, or sea-Groundlin.
1668. Charleton, Onomast., 143. Apua,… the Spirling, Smy, or Sea-Dace.
1694. Motteux, Rabelais, IV. lx. (1737), 246. Craylings, Smys.
