smellyadj.
/ˈsmɛli/, U.S. /ˈsmɛli/ a. Emitting a bad smell or smells; stinking. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > smell and odour > fetor > [adjective]
foul-stinkingOE
poignantc1387
rammishc1395
rank1479
reekya1500
puanta1529
unsavoury1539
uglyc1540
contagious1547
noisome1559
fulsome1576
fetid1599
nasty1601
unsweet1605
rammy1607
stenchful1615
stinkardly1616
rancid1627
reeking1629
pungent1644
olidous1646
stenching1654
graveolent1657
maleolent1657
virous1661
olid1680
ranciduous1688
feculent1703
virose1756
stenchy1757
infragrant1813
inodorous1823
nosy1836
malodorous1850
unfragrant1858
smelly1862
cacodorous1863
stinky1888
funked out1893
niffya1903
whiffy1905
pongy1936
fresh1966
minging1970
bogging1973
bowfing1983
honking1985
1862 H. Marryat One Year in Sweden II. 398 Down the centre runs a straight canal ‘awful smelly’.
1863 C. Kingsley Water-babies v. 192 They cannot abide anything smelly or foul.
1879 A. J. C. Hare Jrnl. 24 Aug. in Story of my Life (1900) V. xx. 219 It was a crowded, rolling, smelly steamer.
b. Suspicious. rare.
ΘΚΠ
society > morality > moral evil > lack of principle or integrity > [adjective] > shady or fishy
fishy1840
shady1862
smelly1944
1923 J. Manchon Le Slang 278 Smelly,..louche, véreux.
1944 R. Chandler Lady in Lake xi. 63 ‘Kind of smelly work, to my notion.’ I let that ride.
1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard viii. 227 Seems a bit smelly, Terry. I should blow him out.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1912; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1862