1821 J. Galt Ann. Parish xxii. 212 There was such a smashing of the poor weans, as had not been known for an age.

1846 T. De Quincey Mem. Marquess Wellesley in Tait's Edinb. Mag. Mar. 195/1 The last great political act of Lord Wellesley, was the smashing of the Peel ministry in 1834.

1886 Law Times 80 285/1 Mere smashing of windows was held not to be a felonious demolition.

1902 ‘Linesman’ Words by Eyewitness 285 That they..endure smashing after smashing, is..as admirable as it is marvellous.

a1877 E. H. Knight Pract. Dict. Mech. III. 2219/2 Smashing-machine (Bookbinding), a press made on the principle of an embossing-press, and used for compressing books.

1819 J. H. Vaux New Vocab. Flash Lang. in Memoirs II. 207 Smashing, uttering counterfeit money; smashing of queer screens, signifies uttering forged bank notes.

1891 M. Williams Later Leaves xii. 144 When once a man commences smashing or passing, he never gives up the practice.

1833 M. Scott Tom Cringle's Log I. i. 12 A heavy smashing thump against our bows.

1841 C. J. Lever Charles O'Malley xcii A smashing volley was poured into the squadron.

1853 W. Irving Life & Lett. (1864) IV. 124 Thackeray..said the Bostonians had published a smashing criticism on him.

1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 23 Oct. 1/2 [To] deal them a smashing blow by an appeal to the country.

a1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. vi. 164 When you get dressed up a bit..you'll do a smashing business.

1914 W. Owen Let. 27 Dec. (1967) 310 I come in hungry to find a ‘smashin’ dinner.

1922 E. Wallace Flying Fifty-five xxxix. 236 I'd take a crack at some of them with Fifty and even with Meyrick, who is a smashing good horse.

1944 M. Paneth Branch Street 8 When the children came..to play in the house they thought it ‘smashing’.

1948 Mind 57 418 The fact is, the verification principle is a metaphysical proposition—a ‘smashing’ one if I may be permitted the expression.

1959 Times Lit. Suppl. 2 Oct. 564/2 It is not her fault that the publishers, in big letters on the jacket, promise ‘as smashing a last sentence as we can recall!’ That promise is not fulfilled. The final twist is surprisingly unsurprising.

1977 Chem. in Brit. 13 118/2 This is a smashing book for anyone interested in surface chemistry and physics to have available on his bookshelf.

1884 Pall Mall Gaz. 19 Mar. 2/1 A man..who is too keen to pause unless he is hit smashingly.

1923 Daily Mail 8 Sept. 6/6 Her volleying is splendid, And smashingly she serves.

1956 ‘C. Blackstock’ Dewey Death iv. 75 He was so smashingly handsome.

1970 Daily Tel. 21 July 13/4 The Férand evening midis of white organdie, smashingly printed with swirls of grey and cocoa.