[A place-name (see def.); L. Smyrna, Gr. Σμύρνα.] The chief port of Asia Minor, situated at the head of the gulf of the same name, used attrib. in the names of various things produced in the vicinity of or connected with the city, as Smyrna cotton, earth, kingfisher, opium, runt, wheat (see quots.).
1735. J. Moore, Columbarium, 44. The Smyrna Runt … is middle siz’d and feather-footed.
1753. Chambers’ Cycl., Suppl., Saponacea terra,… a kind of native alkali salt, of the nature of the nitre,… called by some Smyrna earth. Ibid., s.v. Wheat, Smyrna Wheat, a peculiar kind of Wheat that has an extremely large ear.
1782. Latham, Gen. Synop. Birds, I. II. 615. Smyrna Kingfisher … inhabits the environs of Smyrna.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVII. 203/2. The physical characters of the best Smyrna opium.
1877. Encycl. Brit., VI. 482/2. One of these [Indian cottons] is cultivated to a considerable extent in the Levant, and is known in the market as Smyrna cotton.
b. ellipt. Smyrna raisins.
1845. G. Dodd, Brit. Manuf., V. 102. The ‘Black Smyrnas’ [produce] a strong-bodied wine, and the ‘Red Smyrnas’ and ‘Valencias’ a rich and full wine.
