smatchn.1
/smatʃ/ 1. figurative.1583 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Serm. on Deuteronomie cxxi. 746 I haue yet..this smatch of my wicked bringing up..remayning in mee.
a. Taste, smack, flavour; †also, the sense of taste.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [noun] > sense of taste
smacka1200
smatcha1200
smatching?c1225
swallow1340
swallowing1340
tastec1380
toothc1386
palatea1398
chewinga1400
savouringc1405
gustc1430
tallage1557
relish1605
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [noun]
smacka1000
savour?c1225
relesec1330
tastea1382
sentimentc1400
smatchc1400
taragec1407
tangc1440
weffec1440
tallage14..
sapor1477
verdurea1513
verdour1526
relish1530
verder1532
gustc1540
waft1542
smacker1549
talent1550
tack1602
tache1607
tincture1610
twang1611
foretaster1632
flavour1693
gusto1713
goût1751
saporosity1794
gustativeness1827
savouring1840
sipidity1880
palate1973
a1200 St. Marher. 9 On his hehe hokede neose þreaste smeorðrinde smoke ut smecche forcuðest.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 202 Bitwene muðes smech & nases smel.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 75 Þis smech & þis cnawunge kimeð of gastlich sichðe.
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 461 He hade þe smelle of þe smach & smoltes þeder sone, Fallez on þe foule flesch [etc.].
1581 J. Bell tr. W. Haddon & J. Foxe Against Jerome Osorius A v j But it is not errour forthwith that hath somewhat a bitter smatch, and is unsavory to every queysie stomacke.
1597 W. Langham Garden of Health 536 Those that be distilled in mettall, haue some smatch of the mettall.
1600 R. Surflet tr. C. Estienne & J. Liébault Maison Rustique v. xx. 713 The meal of the corne of Champagne, craueth a newer made leauen,..bicause it hath a smatch of the earth.
1681 N. Grew Musæum Regalis Societatis iv. i. 353 These Salts have also some~what of a Nitrous Tast, but mixed with a smatch of a Vitriolick.
a1764 R. Lloyd Author's Apol. 92 Whosoe'er, though slightly, sips, Their grateful flavour with his lips, Will find it leave a smatch behind.
1852 R. S. Surtees Mr. Sponge's Sporting Tour v. xxv. 148 We had a bottle with a queer smatch the other night.
1892 Pall Mall Gaz. 29 Mar. 7/3 Not the least smatch or bad taste has ever been imparted to the liquor.
b. A mere tasting. rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [noun] > a taste
smatchc1456
tasting1526
taste1530
sip1728
pree1823
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount
speckc725
littleOE
somethingc1200
lutewihtc1230
little whatc1384
ouncec1387
lap1393
smalla1400
modicumc1400
nekedc1400
spota1413
tinec1420
nieveful?a1425
handfulc1443
mouthful?c1450
smatchc1456
weec1480
quern1503
halfpennyworth1533
groatsworth1562
dram1566
shellful1578
trickle1580
snatch1592
sprinkling1594
fleck1598
snip1598
pittance1600
lick1603
fingerful1604
modicum1606
thimbleful1607
flash1614
dasha1616
pipa1616
pickle1629
drachm1635
cue1654
smack1693
starn1720
bit1753
kenning1787
minikin1787
tate1805
starnie1808
sprat1815
harl1821
skerrick1825
smallums1828
huckleberry1832
scrimp1840
thimble1841
smite1843
nattering1859
sensation1859
spurt1859
pauchlea1870
mention1891
sketch1894
sputterings1894
scrappet1901
titch1937
tad1940
skosh1959
smattering1973
c1456 R. Pecock Bk. Faith (Trin. Cambr.) (1909) 205 Whiche bokis, if ȝe wolen rede diligentli..and not forto take an hasti smel or smatche in hem.
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (lxxi. 18) If God should withdraw his grace, when men have tasted but a little smatch of it.
1755 W. Huggins & T. H. Croker tr. L. Ariosto Orlando Furioso II. xxxiii. iii The monsters..Which did his victuals spoil,..Nor suffer'd him to taste, or have a smatch.
2.
a. A slight indication, suggestion, or tincture of some quality, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > quantity > smallness of quantity, amount, or degree > [noun] > a small quantity or amount > a slight touch or trace
specec1330
taste1390
lisounc1400
savourc1400
smatcha1500
smell?a1505
spice1531
smack1539
shadow1586
surmise1586
relish1590
tang1593
touch1597
stain1609
tincture1612
dasha1616
soula1616
twanga1640
whiff1644
haut-goût1650
casta1661
stricturea1672
tinge1736
tinct1752
vestige1756
smattering1764
soupçon1766
smutch1776
shade1791
suspicion1809
lineament1811
trait1815
tint1817
trace1827
skiff1839
spicing1844
smudgea1871
ghost1887
a1500 Tale of Basin in M. M. Furrow Ten 15th-cent. Comic Poems (1985) 54 A wyfe þat has an yvell tach, Þerof þe husbond shalle haue a smache.
1548 N. Udall et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. I. Luke Pref. 6 He hath in sundry woordes and phrases sum smatche of his natiue countrey phrases, that he was borne in.
1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. xxiii. sig. E6v Hee passes the more plausibly because all men haue a smatch of his humour.
1669 W. Holder Elem. Speech 59 Some Nations may be found to have a peculiar Guttural or Nasal smatch in their Language.
1727 P. Longueville Hermit 174 A Smatch of that Respect he has forfeited by his fatal Transgression.
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality I. iv. 153 Has not your Pegasus some smatch of the qualities of the famous Rosinante?
1788 W. Cowper Let. 12 May (1982) III. 159 In the Stile of this Lady's note to you, I can easily perceive a smatch of her character.
1808 C. Lamb Specimens Eng. Dramatic Poets 217 She speaks the dialect of despair, her tongue has a smatch of Tartarus.
1855 F. K. Robinson Gloss. Yorks. Words 160 He has gotten a smatch of London in his talk.
1889 Archaeologia Aeliana New Ser. 13 313 A smatch of the old lawless spirit of their ancestors.
b. A slight touch of illness, pain, etc.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > [noun] > bout or attack of > slight attack
spicea1479
touch1600
smatch1647
brush1733
waff1808
whiff1837
1647 W. Lilly Christian Astrol. xliv. 243 Not that moment when first the Patient felt a Smatch of it.
1790 Coll. Voy. round World I. vi. 143 It was resolved to give him a smatch of the cat-o'-nine-tails.
1865 W. S. Banks List Provinc. Words Wakefield ‘Hez he gotten t'feaver?’ ‘Noa, bud he's a smatch on it.’
3. A slight knowledge, a smattering, of something. †Also, a slight turn or trial at a thing.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > superficial knowledge > [noun] > instance of
smatteringa1538
smatch1571
smackering1579
delibation1619
spatteringa1662
smatter1668
the world > action or operation > endeavour > trial or experiment > [noun] > an experiment > a (slight) trial of something
taste1390
smatch1628
tirlc1660
shy1824
1571 A. Golding tr. J. Calvin Psalmes of Dauid with Comm. (xl. 4) As yit we comprehend it not perfectly, but onely have a little smatch of it.
1628 J. Earle Micro-cosmogr. iv. sig. B10 If he haue leasure to be idle..he ha's a smatch at Alcumy.
1702 D. Defoe Reformation of Manners Misc. 102 A little smatch of Modern Blasphemy.
1719 D. Defoe Farther Adventures Robinson Crusoe 299 They have..a Smatch of the Knowledge of the Mathematicks.
1780 W. Cowper Progress of Error 365 We give some Latin, and a smatch of Greek.
1825 A. Headley in J. Raine Mem. J. Hodgson (1858) II. 66 If you can get Joe Fenwick to give him a smatch of the value of the land it will be of great service to him.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
† smatchn.2
Obsolete.
The wheatear, Saxicola œnanthe. Turner appears to be the only real authority for the name, and the statement in quot. 1753 is very doubtful.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > birds > order Passeriformes (singing) > family Muscicapidae (thrushes, etc.) > subfamily Turdinae > [noun] > oenanthe oenanthe (wheatear)
arlingc1000
clot-bird1544
smatch1544
steinchek1544
wheatear1591
whitetail1611
fallow-smiter1666
stone-check1668
stone-smatch1668
chucka1682
horse-match1736
stone-chatter1783
white-rump1795
snorter1802
clodhopper1834
stone-chacker1853
horse-masher1885
stone-clink1885
1544 W. Turner Avium Præcipuarum sig. C6 Κυανός, Cœruleo, Anglicé, a clotburd, a smatche, an arlyng, a steinchek.
1655 T. Moffett & C. Bennet Healths Improvem. xi. 100 The Clotbird (called sometimes a Smatch, or an Arling) is as big almost as a Thrush.
1668 W. Charleton Onomasticon Zoicon 88 Cæruleo, the Clot-bird, Smatch, or Stone-Check.
1753 Chambers's Cycl. Suppl. Smatch, in zoology, a name by which the common œnanthe is called in many parts of England.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
† smatchv.
Obsolete.
1.
a. intransitive. To have a (specified) flavour or taste; to smack (in some way).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (intransitive)] > have a taste
smatchc1000
brykec1315
smack1398
smake14..
savourc1405
taragec1407
taste1552
relish1566
eat1607
drink1617
seasona1625
bite1713
c1000 Ælfric Gram. (Z.) xxviii. 166 Sapio, ic wat oððe ic smæcce.
a1225 Leg. Kath. 1526 Mi swete lif, se swoteliche he smecheð me & smealleð.
1377 W. Langland Piers Plowman B. v. 363 Is non so hungri hounde..Durst lape of þe leuynges, so vnlouely þei smauȝte [C. smauhte].
c1400 (?c1380) Cleanness l. 955 Al in smolderande smoke smachande ful ille.
1682 E. Hickeringill Black Non-Conformist Concl. 64 Revenge..to a polluted Palate..relishes and smach's more sweet..than Muscadine and Eggs.
b. figurative. To smack of something.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > be similar [verb (intransitive)] > have a touch, tinge, or suggestion of
soundc1340
smatchc1380
soundc1380
savourc1454
smell1526
taste1559
relish1577
smacka1616
reflect1617
seasona1625
tincture1787
twang1821
c1380 J. Wyclif Wks. (1880) 393 Þe whiche smachen of symony and extorcion.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. II. 226 Many men wenen þat al þes newe sectis..smatchen sumwhat of heresie.
1564 T. Harding Answere to Iuelles Chalenge xi. f. 128 This terme All, here smatcheth of spite.
1578 J. Banister Hist. Man i. f. 22 Allowing his description therin to retain and smatche of veritie.
a1604 M. Hanmer Chron. Ireland 8 in J. Ware Two Hist. Ireland (1633) The Hebrewes by reason of their peregrination and captivities do smach of the Chaldees, Syriack and Arabick tongues.
1615 J. Day Festivals 242 The new Cask will ever smatch of that wherewith it hath beene seasoned.
c. transitive. To smack of (something).
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (transitive)] > taste of something
smakec1315
smatchc1380
taste1596
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 27 So eche secte smatchiþ many synnes.
c1380 J. Wyclif Sel. Wks. I. 28 Al þes þree sectis mote nedis smatche errour.
1402 Polit. Poems (Rolls) II. 64 Sith alle that is not groundid smacchith grete synne.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie ii. xiv. 106 They smatch more the schoole of common players than of any delicate Poet Lyricke or Elegiacke.
1589 G. Puttenham Arte Eng. Poesie iii. xix. 197 Such as smatch morall doctrine and teach..good behauiour.
2. transitive. To taste, feel the taste of. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [verb (transitive)]
fandc893
cunc1175
smatch?c1225
swallowa1340
tastea1400
savour?a1425
strain1533
relish1592
pree1680
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 84 He smachte gallen on his tunge. forto learen ancre þet ha ne gruche neaure. for na mete.
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 75 Hit is an dearne halewi þet na mon ne cnaweð þet naueð hit ismecchet.
a1240 Ureisun in Old Eng. Hom. I. 189 Al þet ich abbe..mid muþ ispekin oþer ismaht.
c1460 (?c1400) Tale of Beryn l. 3122 He held it nat al foly þat Geffrey did clatir,..For parcell of his wisdom, to-fore he had smaught.
Derivatives
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > taste and flavour > [noun] > sense of taste
smacka1200
smatcha1200
smatching?c1225
swallow1340
swallowing1340
tastec1380
toothc1386
palatea1398
chewinga1400
savouringc1405
gustc1430
tallage1557
relish1605
?c1225 (?a1200) Ancrene Riwle (Cleo. C.vi) (1972) 53 Smellunge & smechunge beoð imuð baðe ase sichðe inechȝe.
c1230 Hali Meid. 13 Hire fif wittes, sihðe & heringe, smecchunge & smealunge & euch limes felunge.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
<
n.1a1200
n.21544v.c1000